By Mulengera Reporters
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has intensified its efforts to widen the country’s tax base and improve compliance by taking taxpayer education to timber dealers in Arua City.
The engagement brought URA officials together with traders in the timber business at their premises in the city, where the authority sensitized them about their tax rights and obligations. The initiative is part of URA’s broader strategy to bring more businesses in the informal sector into the tax system and encourage voluntary compliance.
Timber dealing is among the businesses that URA is targeting as it seeks to identify and bring more economic activities into the tax net. The authority says widening the tax base is important in increasing domestic revenue and reducing dependence on a relatively small number of formal taxpayers.
Addressing the timber dealers, Claire Sanyu, the Supervisor of Stakeholder Relations for Northern Uganda at URA, emphasized the importance of paying taxes as a contribution towards national development.
Sanyu explained that taxes collected by government are used to finance essential public services and development programmes that benefit citizens across the country. She therefore urged timber dealers to understand their tax responsibilities and make their fair contribution to the Consolidated Fund.
She also encouraged traders to take advantage of taxpayer education programmes to seek clarification about the taxes applicable to their businesses and the procedures for complying with them.
According to URA, engagements of this nature are intended not only to collect revenue but also to build a better understanding between the tax authority and the business community. By meeting taxpayers at their places of work, the authority is able to address concerns and provide practical guidance on compliance.
The timber dealers welcomed the initiative, saying taking tax education directly to their workplaces makes it easier for them to access information and understand their obligations.
Abdul Majid Abubakar, chairman of the timber dealers, applauded the URA team for visiting their premises and sensitizing traders about their tax rights and responsibilities.
He said such engagements provide an opportunity for business owners to interact directly with tax officials, ask questions and gain a clearer understanding of how the tax system affects their businesses.
URA says it will continue working with different sectors through stakeholder engagements and sensitization programmes as it seeks to expand the tax base, improve compliance and strengthen domestic revenue collection. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
