Finance Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development Henry Musasizi has challenged newly recruited Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) staff to uphold integrity, professionalism and fairness as the government seeks to increase domestic revenue collection.
Musasizi made the remarks during a pass-out ceremony for 174 newly recruited URA staff who completed a one-month leadership training programme at the Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership.
The minister told the graduates that their responsibilities extend beyond collecting taxes, saying their conduct will influence public confidence in both URA and the government.
“Every interaction with a taxpayer is an opportunity to build trust in URA and in Government,” Musasizi said.
He urged the officers to ensure that revenue administration is guided by fairness and professionalism while using the information, resources and authority entrusted to them responsibly.
According to Musasizi, tax officers have a broader role in helping Ugandans understand the importance of fulfilling their tax obligations and contributing to national development.
He said the new recruits should view taxpayers not simply as sources of government revenue, but as citizens whose cooperation is essential to financing public services and development.
Musasizi also encouraged the officers to embrace technology and continuous learning as they begin their careers at the revenue authority.
He reminded them that completing the training marked the beginning of a greater responsibility to serve Ugandans.
“This is not the destination, but the beginning of a greater responsibility,” he told the graduates.
The training comes as the government intensifies efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and reduce reliance on borrowing to finance development programmes.
Musasizi said Uganda’s economy has expanded to Shs250.4 trillion, but the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains at about 14%.
The government has set a target of raising the revenue-to-GDP ratio to at least 20%, which Musasizi said would provide additional resources for development while reducing excessive dependence on borrowing.
The minister’s remarks place the newly recruited URA officers at the centre of the government’s efforts to improve tax compliance, strengthen revenue administration and build greater public confidence in the taxation system.