The Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda, Kelvin Colgan, has reaffirmed his country's commitment to helping the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) strengthen institutional resilience, drive innovation, and improve domestic revenue generation, all key to Uganda’s economic independence.
During a courtesy visit to URA headquarters on April 9, Ambassador Colgan, alongside a delegation from the Irish Embassy, discussed the strategic partnership between Ireland and URA. The collaboration focuses on sharing expertise, enhancing tax administration systems, and using technology to increase efficiency.
“We are dedicated to supporting African tax institutions like URA to develop strong, sustainable revenue systems that will benefit future generations, regardless of global financial fluctuations,” Colgan stated.
John R. Musinguzi, URA’s Commissioner General, welcomed the ambassador’s visit, stressing the value of strong partnerships. He reiterated URA’s readiness to expand collaboration with dedicated development partners to ensure mutual progress.
“No man is an island. These engagements with countries that have advanced systems offer us valuable learning opportunities,” he said. “They will help us create a strong, modern tax administration that will last.”
The discussions also covered areas for further cooperation, such as digital transformation, trade facilitation, and compliance strategies – all crucial to URA’s mission of efficient revenue mobilisation.
Musinguzi thanked the Irish Tax and Customs for their ongoing support, particularly in staff capacity building. He highlighted the importance of knowledge-sharing in areas like technology, data analytics, and risk management, which are essential to URA’s progress.
With URA preparing to recruit hundreds of new staff, Musinguzi stressed that staff capacity development is now more critical than ever. “Many people want to work but lack the skills needed in today’s job market. We need to build a knowledge base that will serve Uganda for generations,” he said.
Colgan also commended URA’s efforts in tax education, noting that increasing awareness is vital for fostering a culture of tax compliance. He further praised the Commissioner General’s commitment to innovation, especially in automating tax systems to enhance efficiency and improve the taxpayer experience.