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Kariisa Richard commissioner cooperate affairs URA
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By Edson Kinene
MBARARA - The Executive Director of the Western Ankole Civil Society Forum, Apollo Lee Kakonge, has called on Uganda's tax authority, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), to bridge the gap between itself and the business community by increasing awareness and engagement.
Speaking during the Integrity Forum 2024, held on Tuesday at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara City under the theme "Enhancing URA's Efforts in Combating Corruption and Revenue Leakages," Kakonge said tax compliance would improve if the URA established closer ties with the public through awareness initiatives.
Tumwesigye Silver, the director of Silgad Investments, criticized URA staff, accusing some of soliciting bribes from the business community. He stressed the importance of reporting corrupt officials and urged the URA to work with civil society organizations to advocate for taxpayer rights, fostering a stronger relationship with the business community.
He also recommended increasing the incentive for whistle-blowers from 5 percent to 10 percent, alongside ensuring their strict protection to encourage reporting. Additionally, he suggested more staff training to promote ethical behavior.
Richard Kariisa, Commissioner of Corporate Services at URA, representing the URA Commissioner, noted that these training initiatives aim to equip taxpayers with tools to prevent tax leakages and combat corruption. He encouraged the business community to hold URA staff accountable for their service standards and collaboration, highlighting the need for technology adoption in businesses to curb bribery and other corrupt practices.
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