Dear esteemed clients, I take this opportunity to wish you a prosperity-filled and fruitful 2017.  I thank you for the deliberate efforts to meet your tax obligations. 

During the period July- November 2016, Uganda Revenue Authority has collected Shs 4.7 trillion. We appreciate your commitment to pay your taxes and meet all your obligations on time and in the correct amount.

I would like to encourage the ones that are not yet compliant to come on board. Do not get drawn into the trap of noncompliance because you have either heard about or observed noncompliance by others around you because the cost of noncompliance is very high.

I urge you to make use of the free services we offer, where and when necessary, to make it easy for you to comply. For instance, take advantage of and be sure to attend the free tax clinics or taxpayer engagement in your area; get acquainted with the URA teams in the office in your vicinity and let your voice be heard.

Your input contributed to the flat tax rates payable by taxpayers in the small business category and many more policy changes are in the offing as a result of your feedback.

We continue to enhance initiatives that ease your transactions with us. We were recognized for being the best government body providing services to the public using information and communications technology (ICT). 

Enhance your knowledge by making use of the URA services catalogue available on www.ura.go.ug . I urge those that have not yet done so to download the URA Android-enabled mobile application “AskURA”.

URA is working hand in hand with the Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda Registration Services Bureau and the ministry of local government to facilitate all your business licensing and registration needs.  You can now access TIN registration and business licensing services from these institutions in one place at no cost.

In 2016, we embarked on a process of cleaning up and professionalizing the clearing and forwarding agents fraternity to further enhance the quality and integrity of the services they offer.  We have published a list of clearing firms and names of their staff that are approved to represent clients for the year 2017. 

You can access this list by logging onto the URA web portal and follow the links to public notices.

For more information on the budget performance, please visit www.budget.go.ug; or write to budget@finance.go.ug and obtain answers to all your questions about how your money is being utilized in meeting government expenditure. 

In the words of former US President John F Kennedy; “I urge you; ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Doris Akol
Commissioner General.

We need national reconciliation

The year 2016 has been a tough one basing on a number of events that shaped it. From the post-election divide between the ruling NRM and the opposition, to the fracture in the economy, spate of murders of Muslim clerics, protracted conflicts in the Rwenzori sub-region, to striking hunger in the countryside.

Ugandans are silently dying because of political divides, wrong economic decisions and selfish motives of a selected few within an overtly politics-captured state.
No wonder it is our leaders that show us a bad example.

While bidding farewell to one fallen UPDF general about a month ago, a cabinet minister ditched laying a wreath rapped in blue colours on the casket until one in her party colours was brought to her. Really?

For a country whose motto aligns with spiritual belief, what happened to the principles of natural justice, tolerance and coexistence?

Fellow countrymen and women, enough of the blame-game; let’s learn from our past mistakes, agree to change course and embrace 2017 with peace, love for one another and reconciliation.

Badru Walusansa
Commonwealth Correspondent.

Pledge not to drink and drive this holiday season

You have been at the bar hanging out with friends having a few drinks. It is now time to go back home to your family and you feel pretty good to drive. Well,
at least you think you are.

You drive a few meters and next thing you know is that you have been involved in an accident!

Many of us have witnessed drunk-driving accidents. These increase significantly during the holiday season, and yet they are entirely avoidable. If you drink and drive, not only are you jeopardizing yourself, you are putting other road users at risk.

This holiday, social media was awash with messages about a campaign by Uganda breweries Limited against drunk driving. The brewer, through their Red Card campaign, partnered Uber to give free rides to ‘happy’ holidaymakers so that people didn’t have to get behind the wheels when drunk. The #YouDrinkWeDrive hashtag was trending for a couple of days.

This is a very good initiative: after all, the easier it is to get a safe ride, the less likely we are to drive after drinking. A safe, sober ride available on demand is important.

I want to challenge you all to do something. Make a pledge to not drink and drive from this day forward. Pledge to yourself. Put it on Facebook. Tweet about it. Tell your friends and ask them to remain responsible.

Alex Welishe,
Wakiso.

letters@observer.ug