By Mulengera Reporters
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has intensified calls for stronger regional tax integration and increased use of data analytics to enhance compliance as senior revenue officials from across East Africa meet in Kampala for the 101st session of the East African Revenue Authorities Technical Committee.
The meeting, running under the theme “Leveraging data and analytics to enhance compliance through a dynamic and skilled workforce,” has brought together delegates from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, Zanzibar (virtually), and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF). Deliberations are centered on improving tax administration systems, strengthening cross-border coordination, and advancing digital transformation in revenue collection.
Representing URA Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi, Commissioner for Executive Operations Abel Kagumire emphasized the need for revenue authorities to evolve beyond traditional collection roles and adopt more sophisticated, data-led compliance systems.
He noted progress made by technical working groups in harmonizing valuation approaches and strengthening shared regional databases, describing these efforts as critical in reducing inconsistencies and improving efficiency in tax administration.
Kagumire stressed the importance of risk-based compliance frameworks, enhanced audit and investigative capacity, and streamlined administrative systems supported by digital tools. He also highlighted taxpayer education as central to improving voluntary compliance and strengthening trust between tax agencies and citizens.
He pointed to emerging threats such as illicit financial flows, transfer pricing abuse, and tax avoidance through offshore jurisdictions, calling for coordinated regional responses. He further urged member states to deepen harmonization of tax policies to reduce compliance costs and create a more predictable investment environment across East Africa.
A major focus of the discussions is the adoption of advanced data analytics to improve compliance monitoring, risk profiling, and decision-making. Delegates were urged to strengthen intelligence-sharing systems, including joint surveillance mechanisms, to address cross-border tax evasion and smuggling.
Kagumire challenged technical teams to move beyond incremental reforms and pursue transformative solutions capable of modernizing revenue systems to global standards. He also emphasized the need for stronger monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure that policy recommendations translate into measurable impact.
Assistant Commissioner for Finance at URA, Diana Kisaka, highlighted Uganda’s ongoing reforms across customs, domestic taxation, IT systems, and legal frameworks, noting steady progress in improving operational efficiency and compliance management.
She reported improvements in cargo management systems following recent reforms aimed at strengthening customs enforcement and reducing leakages. Kisaka emphasized that sustained collaboration among revenue authorities remains key to building resilient systems that can support regional economic growth.
She reiterated the importance of the ongoing engagement in refining strategies that enhance compliance, expand the tax base, and improve coordination across East Africa’s revenue administrations.
The meeting is expected to produce recommendations focused on digital transformation, harmonization of tax systems, improved compliance strategies, and deeper regional cooperation to strengthen revenue mobilization across the East African Community. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
