Beyond Tax Collection: Finance minister challenges new URA officers to build and improve public trust

Uganda’s drive to raise domestic revenue is placing a fresh premium on the people charged with collecting it, with Finance Minister Henry Musasizi telling newly recruited Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officers that integrity, professionalism and fairness must define their work.

Musasizi made the call as 174 newly recruited URA staff completed a one-month leadership and ideological training programme at the Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership, marking the beginning of their careers in revenue administration.

For the minister, the new officers are joining URA at a critical moment. Government wants to expand domestic revenue collection to finance development while reducing excessive reliance on borrowing, making the conduct and professionalism of revenue officers increasingly important.

“Every interaction with a taxpayer is an opportunity to build trust in URA and in Government,” Musasizi said.

Beyond collecting taxes

Musasizi challenged the graduates to see their role as larger than simply assessing and collecting taxes.

He said every engagement with a taxpayer should reinforce confidence in the tax system and help cultivate a culture in which citizens understand taxation as part of national development.

“Your role goes beyond collecting revenue. You have a responsibility to help build a culture in which Ugandans understand that paying taxes is part of building the country we all want,” he said.

The minister urged the officers to use responsibly the information, resources and authority entrusted to them, while embracing technology and continuous learning.

“As you receive your certificates today, remember that this is not the destination, but the beginning of a greater responsibility,” he said.

The message reflects the growing importance of taxpayer experience in revenue administration, where enforcement must be balanced with professionalism, transparency and public confidence.

The revenue challenge

The training comes as Government pursues an ambitious increase in Uganda’s domestic revenue capacity.

Musasizi said Uganda’s economy has expanded to Shs250.4 trillion, but the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains at about 14%.

He said government wants to raise the ratio to at least 20%, arguing that stronger domestic revenue mobilisation is necessary to finance development without excessive dependence on borrowing.

“Uganda’s economy has grown to Shs250.4 trillion, but our tax-to-GDP ratio remains at about 14%. We must strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and raise this to at least 20% to finance our development without excessive dependence on borrowing,” he said.

That target places URA at the centre of Government’s fiscal strategy, with the authority expected to improve compliance, broaden the tax base and strengthen collection while maintaining taxpayer confidence.

Revenue mobilisation as national security

Representing the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Joint Staff Political Commissar Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko linked successful revenue mobilisation to Uganda’s national security and defence capacity.

“Successful revenue mobilization and protection is a force multiplier for UPDF, because this way we are guaranteed of adequate budget support to enhance force capacity,” Matsiko said.

He said domestic revenue mobilisation should be supported across Government and society, including by the UPDF.

“Once URA thrives and succeeds, we equally benefit and also domestic efforts of mobilizing internal sources must be supported by everyone, including UPDF,” he said.

Matsiko also delivered a blunt message on discipline and accountability, saying Government’s current posture was: “No more sleep, no more corruption, no more laziness and no more politeness on the side of supervisors. It is not going to be business as usual.”

He urged the new officers to protect public revenue with conviction, discipline and ethical conduct, arguing that safeguarding revenue ultimately contributes to protecting Uganda’s sovereignty.

URA expands its workforce

URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki said the authority has recruited 2,092 staff over the past three years, with 1,887 already undergoing mindset-change training.

Of these, 708 trained at the Oliver Tambo School of Leadership, 817 at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi and 362 at the External Security Organisation (ESO) Garuga.

Musinguzi described the ideological training as an important foundation for officers entering an institution whose work directly affects the relationship between citizens, businesses and Government.

“We strongly believe this is one of the best trainings that anyone before they work with us must have to understand the needs of our country,” he said.

He also assured government of URA’s commitment to achieving the 20% tax-to-GDP target.

Turning recruits into public servants

For Emmanuel Bichetero, Acting Commissioner of the Tax Academy, the leadership course is designed to establish the values expected of the new officers before they proceed to technical tax training.

He said the ideological programme should not be viewed as a formality, but as deliberate preparation for public service.

“When you return, we expect renewed purpose and responsibility. You are no longer just new staff in URA. You are now members of the URA workforce,” Bichetero told the graduates.

The graduation therefore marks more than the completion of a training course. It places 174 new officers into an institution at the heart of Uganda’s effort to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation.

Their immediate task will be tax administration. But the larger test, as the Finance Minister emphasised, will be whether they can exercise the authority entrusted to them in a manner that builds compliance, protects public revenue and strengthens citizens’ confidence in Government.