More changes in URA

Mar 24, 2007

MORE changes are expected at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Allen Kagina, the commissioner general, disclosed on Thursday.

By Peter Kaujju

MORE changes are expected at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Allen Kagina, the commissioner general, disclosed on Thursday.

The tax body’s chief said the changes will be in line with the ongoing transformation project of upgrading processes and systems.

She said the changes to improve the institution through service delivery would be implemented continuously.

“We are not changing the laws but the processes and systems and anything that does not bring value to URA will be dropped,” said Kagina. She said the business environment “is changing very fast and therefore URA needs to move with the times.”

“The product that URA is selling is not an easy one and this calls for the involvement of everyone so that we can develop the country together.

“We do not underestimate the role of stakeholders,” explained Kagina.

She was addressing stakeholders during the executive forum on transformation of the customs services in Kampala.

Peter Malinga, the commissioner for customs, said the institution had introduced the customs modernisation project to turn around all business processes for efficiency.

“We are moving away from developing systems that only satisfy URA to those that are client-centred and efficient.

“But for us to achieve this, we want to work with all our stakeholders to help in risk management,” Malinga said.

Dan Arurwa, the manager customs in the western, said several changes focusing on people, processes and systems had been effected.

These include a one-stop border clearance centre for rail cargo at Malaba, a joint border verification of road cargo and client self-assessment that have reduced queues.

“We have increased automation of systems and business processes, linkage of our systems with internal and external stakeholders and the electronic cargo tracking systems which will enhance our customs enforcement,” Arurwa explained.

The public had for the past several years accused URA of corruption and inefficiency.

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