The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has unveiled its Digitalisation and IT Strategy for 2023/24-2027/28, with a strong focus on leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance revenue collection, efficiency, and service delivery. John R. Musinguzi, the Commissioner General of URA, has urged all stakeholders to embrace and support this strategy, which aims to “mobilize revenue for national development in a transparent and efficient manner.”
This five-year strategy is designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of tax collection while prioritizing the satisfaction of taxpayers. Central to this strategy is the use of technology to enhance the taxpayer experience by generating accurate data and tax ledgers, thereby providing clarity and certainty regarding tax obligations. It also aims to use big data analytics to identify non-compliant taxpayers and make non-compliance more challenging and costly.
In addition to improving taxpayer services, the strategy outlines plans to modernize URA’s systems, streamline online services, and develop a high-performing and diverse workforce. It also underscores the importance of creating a reliable, secure, and interoperable digital environment that facilitates timely tax compliance by taxpayers.
During the launch of the strategy, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija challenged the URA to achieve a 20% Tax-to-GDP ratio within two years as part of Uganda’s Domestic Revenue Mobilization Strategy (DRMS). The DRMS aims to boost revenue collection and increase Uganda’s Tax-to-GDP ratio from 12.5% to between 16-18% by 2023/24.
Under the leadership of John R. Musinguzi, the URA has consistently registered growth in revenue collections, reaching a record UGX 25.2 trillion in the fiscal year 2022/23. The tax register has also expanded significantly during this period, with the number of taxpayers more than doubling.
Musinguzi assured stakeholders that the URA is committed to achieving its revenue targets, focusing on efficiency improvements. He encouraged non-compliant taxpayers to take advantage of provisions within the law to become compliant without incurring penalties. He also emphasized that the URA’s data capabilities would enable it to identify non-compliant individuals in the near future.
The Commissioner General thanked compliant taxpayers for their contributions and expressed gratitude to the government and other partners for supporting URA’s transformation efforts.
According to The CEO, he “Commissioner General” pledged to ensure that every investment in technology would be wisely spent, making the most of taxpayer and government funding. By investing in owned infrastructure, digital assets, and training its workforce, the URA aims to improve efficiency and reduce technology costs while achieving its revenue goals.