By Peter Ssebulime
Kampala: As the flag bearers of revenue mobilization, URA has embarked on implementing a series of new resource mobilization initiatives, aimed at identifying and facilitating eligible citizens and economic players to contribute to the revenue basket and enable Uganda fully fund her expenditure.
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URA is implementing two new smart business solutions, each rooted in understanding the concerns of the business community – the Digital Tracking Solution, and the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS).
It is for this agenda that an Integrated Communication and Marketing Campaign dubbed “KAKASA; – You’re in charge” has been designed. Through the promotion of the KAKASA campaign, URA will help usher in a new approach to doing business, allowing businessmen and women across Uganda to take full charge of their business destiny – from production, importation, consumption and through to record-keeping.
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The campaign is aimed at cementing URA’s mission and positioning her as a trusted listening partner, business enabler and service-centric organisation passionate about the growth and development of all Ugandans.
“Across the business community, we aim to create awareness and then boost the adoption of the three business solutions of EFRIS, Voluntary Disclosure and Digital Tracking Solutions,” said URA Commissioner General, Mr Herbert Rujoki.
“We want to encourage the business community to be tax-alert and look at tax as part of a legitimate business expense and not as a burden. By embracing the three business solutions under this campaign, our businessmen and women should no longer face tax-associated challenges such as inaccurate bookkeeping, VAT accounting, declaring the right tax and delayed tax refunds,” he added.
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According to Rujoki, the Kakasa business solutions are meant to level this taxpaying landscape by identifying and facilitating all eligible citizens and economic players to join Uganda’s growing family of compliant taxpayers so that they can all grow the nation together.
“For instance, the EFRIS is a platform and tool for proper record keeping with full details of real-time business transactions. This facilitates fair assessments of a business’ tax position which reduces unfair competition in business. It also improves faster filing of returns and processing of tax refunds,” he said.
On thereother hand, however, the DTS will reduce smuggling and dumping of goods hence controlling illicit trade and encouraging fair market competition. It also provides the business person immediate access to details of their production/imports which in turn facilitates easy processing of VAT refunds and quickens return filing.
“Our aspiration is to mobilize enough revenue for comprehensive national development for this and future generations, a journey we are appealing to all Ugandans to take with us on this campaign,” Rujoki noted, adding that KAKASA campaign is therefore a behavioural change campaign that will be revealed through a character called KAPO, set to inform, persuade and motivate behaviour changes among Ugandans.
Who Is Kapo?
KAPO is a tax compliant businessman with 2 business ventures to his name registered as KAPO And Sons General Merchandise and Ba Kapo Beer Depot based in Kampala. Kapo involves his wife and kids in the operations of his business to ensure that his slowly growing empire lasts for generations.
Through Kapo’s business chronicles, take u on a journey through his world of business categorically showing you how he has been able to turn his business fortunes around courtesy of the Kakasa Business Solutions provided by URA to facilitate trade and to simplify business.
