We Can Only Work Together if You Are Tax Compliant, URA Tells Suppliers
This year’s forum, themed "Building Strategic Partnerships with a Commitment to Service Excellence," highlighted the importance of mutual accountability and maintaining excellence in service delivery.
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has issued a clear and firm reminder to its suppliers regarding the importance of tax compliance in fostering strong and sustainable business relationships.
During the annual URA Suppliers Forum held at Hotel Africana, the Acting Commissioner General of URA, Robert Mutebi, emphasized that non-compliance with tax obligations could hinder future collaborations between the authority and its suppliers.
This year’s forum, themed "Building Strategic Partnerships with a Commitment to Service Excellence," highlighted the importance of mutual accountability and maintaining excellence in service delivery.
“Commitment to tax compliance is key,” Mutebi declared, stressing the significant financial gap created by non-compliance.
“There is Shs700 billion that has not been paid in terms of taxes, and such non-compliance is not good.”
He urged suppliers to understand that their adherence to tax obligations is critical for the growth of Uganda’s economy and that sustainable partnerships can only be built on transparency and ethical conduct.
Mutebi also addressed a pressing concern about corruption in procurement, urging suppliers to reduce their involvement in corrupt practices, especially during procurement processes.
“Suppliers must lower their contribution to corruption, particularly within procurement,” he said, reiterating that maintaining ethical business practices is central to URA’s core values.
Uthuman Segawa, the Director of Legal Affairs at the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), supported Mutebi’s message by highlighting the broader implications of corruption.
“Fifty-seven percent of foreign bribery cases are linked to procurement corruption,” Segawa stated, urging suppliers to report any unethical practices.
He further noted that combating corruption enhances fairness and ethical business practices, benefiting all stakeholders.
Richard Kariisa, URA’s Commissioner for Corporate Services, focused on the issue of compliance documentation, urging suppliers to submit authentic and accurate certificates of tax compliance.
“We have encountered cases where suppliers submit forged certificates of tax compliance, which compromises the credibility of both URA and its suppliers,” Kariisa stated.
He warned that URA would take strict actions against those found submitting fraudulent documents, emphasizing that high standards of integrity are expected from all suppliers.
Despite the emphasis on compliance and ethics, some suppliers voiced concerns about the bureaucratic challenges they face when working with URA.
One supplier remarked, “The URA processes are becoming increasingly cumbersome, with bureaucratic delays and excessive requirements that strain our resources.”
Another added, “These hurdles create financial strain and limit our efficiency.”
The URA Suppliers Forum underscored the importance of collaboration, ethical practices, and tax compliance in building lasting and successful partnerships.
As Mutebi concluded, “We can only work together if our suppliers are fully compliant. Compliance is not just about regulations; it’s about creating a business environment we can all trust and thrive in.”
