Taxing bodaboda riders will reduce tax burden, say Fort Portal traders

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As a way of expanding Uganda's tax base, the Government should start collecting taxes from bodaboda riders, Fort Portal city-based traders have said.

The traders argue that such a move will reduce the burden currently placed on them.

The appeal was made on November 4, 2025, during a meeting organised by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) under its Integrity Forum, where traders, civil society representatives and URA officials discussed challenges related to tax collection and compliance.

Speaking during the meeting, several traders expressed concern that the Government continues to heavily tax formal businesses while leaving out a large informal sector, particularly boda boda riders, who they say earn a daily income but contribute little to national revenue.

“Let us widen the tax base, we have been overtaxed, you are trying to squeeze the little we have,” trader Mwesige John Wilson said.

“If bodaboda riders also paid taxes, the Government would collect more revenue and ease the pressure on traders who are already paying too much,” he added.

David Kantu, another trader, said a fair and inclusive tax system would not only improve compliance but also build trust between taxpayers and government authorities.

According to him, this can be done if the government started taxing the bodaboda riders so that the burden on traders can be reduced. 

“Every bodaboda should pay at least shillings 1,000 per day, they are becoming very many and a menace,” he said.

During the same engagement, Civil society actors emphasised the need for transparency in how taxes are used. 

Angella Byangwa, the executive director of the Rwenzori Anti-Corruption Coalition, said citizens should see clear results from the taxes they pay.

“People should be able to see their taxes working in better hospitals, improved roads, and other essential public services,” Byangwa said.

She also warned that the Government must ensure fairness when introducing new taxes so that low-income earners are not exploited.

URA officials, meanwhile, acknowledged the concerns and pledged to strengthen accountability and fight corruption within the tax body.

Herbat Rusoke, a commissioner in URA’s internal audit department, said the Authority has implemented measures to ensure integrity in tax collection and management.

“We have put systems in place to fight corruption and ensure that every shilling collected is used for the right purpose,” Rusoke said.

The traders’ call comes at a time when the government is seeking new ways to expand its revenue base to support public services and development projects amid growing economic pressures.