Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has stepped up its tax education campaign in Gulu City, engaging Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in a bid to promote inclusivity and formalise businesses in Uganda’s informal sector.
The outreach, held this past week, attracted dozens of PWDs involved in small-scale farming, tailoring, and petty trade. For many participants, it was their first direct interaction with URA.
Sharon Natukunda, a URA tax education facilitator, said the initiative is part of a broader effort to reach all communities.
“This is our first time engaging PWDs in Gulu. We have previously conducted sessions in Kampala, and we were in Lira last week. We promise to come to you more often,” she assured participants.
The training focused on practical steps for business formalization, such as obtaining a Tax Identification Number (TIN), keeping accurate financial records, and understanding tax incentives available to PWDs.
URA officers also guided participants through the online registration process and tackled common errors that often delay TIN approval.
Natukunda emphasised that maintaining financial records isn’t just for URA’s benefit—it also helps traders measure the growth of their businesses.
Many PWDs at the event raised concerns about the lack of accessible information on tax exemptions specifically designed for them.
In response, Andrew Kyakonye, another URA Tax Education Officer, clarified that PWDs are entitled to exemptions on the importation of assistive devices such as crutches and wheelchairs.
“Don’t rely on agents or businesspeople to help you import crutches, wheelchairs, or other assistive devices,” he advised.
“Unlike others, persons with disabilities are entitled to tax exemptions on these items; but if a non-disabled person imports on your behalf, you may lose that benefit.”
The outreach in Gulu is part of URA’s inclusive tax education campaign aimed at demystifying taxation and encouraging voluntary compliance. It also comes as URA continues to register steady growth in domestic revenue collection.
According to the latest figures, URA collected 23.6 trillion shillings in the 2023/24 financial year, representing a 16.4% growth from the previous year’s 20.3 trillion.
Uganda’s current tax-to-GDP ratio stands at about 13.7%, slightly above the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 13.3%, but still below the 15% target recommended by the African Tax Administration Forum for sustainable economic growth.
URA says it remains committed to ensuring that all segments of the population, including persons with disabilities, are included in Uganda’s tax compliance journey.
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