Local Government officials lack tax collection skills

By Patrick Jaramogi

Most local government personnel involved in revenue collections lack the necessary skills needed for effective revenue collection, a senior government official has disclosed.

Johnson Gumisiriza the senior economist in the Local Government Commission noted that a recent study conducted in several districts across the country had unearthed a lot of “mess” in the revenue collection leading to loss of revenue to government.

“As we talk about tax issues and revenue collection it is sad to note that the revenue collectors we have in local government lack the skills needed for effective work. We discovered in a recent study that for the last six years nobody has been trained in tax collection,” said Gumisiriza.

He told the public dialogue attended by Members of Parliament, the Academia and civil society that lack of cooperation between district leaders and Parliamentarian was hurting revenue collections from local governments. “The conflict between MPs and district chairperson over who rules the population is dangerous. Some MPs tell people not to pay taxes not knowing that this will affect the operation of the districts,” he said.

Legislators who attended the tax dialogue organized by Actionaid and SEATINI Uganda observed that corruption was affecting social service delivery.

Hatwib Katoto (Katerera MP) noted that Parliament was doing its part but the implementation was hard from government. “Things are not moving. Parliament is doing its part, but implementation is the biggest challenge,” he said. He noted with concern that it is the poor who are doubled taxed. “If corruption is not handled, we are going nowhere,” he said.

Jane Nalunga the Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiation Institute (SEATINI) said issues of taxation should be taken as agents of national development. “How is the tax collected? How is it divided? Who gets tax incentives? How transparent is the procedure. Our citizens should have a role they play in tax collection,” she said.

Balyejjusa Suleiman Kirunda (MP Budiope) noted that most citizens were evading taxes leading to low tax revenue. “Tax evasion is illegal though tax avoidance may be right but it is important that citizens pay their taxes and demand for accountability,” he said.

Simon Ngabirano, the supervisor service support domestic tax department URA said tax avoidance is similar to tax evasion and is illegal. “We have been having tax revenue collection issues that are why we are now focusing all our energies on hunting for tax evaders,” he said. Ngabirano noted that 91 percent of the tax revenue collected is just from 1000 leading tax payers.

Irene Arono from Actionaid Uganda said the public service delivery to the citizenry had gone to the dogs. “We need to sensitize our population to demand for accountability for the taxes that they pay,” she said.

Prof. Ndebesa Mwambutsya surged Parliamentarians to desist from illegal corruption. “We are talking of corruption but this starts from Parliament. I call it illegal corruption when you pass supplementary budgets to benefit a few, that is corruption. I don’t think we need this supplementary budget” said the Head of Development Studies at Makerere University.