HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I 
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has recognized 25 top tax payers, led by MTN Uganda Limited, which walked away with Grand Tax Contributor Award 2024/25.
MTN Uganda emerged as the top most tax payer, after having paid sh2.47 trillion in tax revenue in the last three financial years.
Nile Breweries Limited was on its part awarded with an Excel Award for its commitment to community and national development, while Tororo Cement Limited walked away with the 1st Runner Up for this year’s Excel Award.
TotalEnergies EP Uganda also won a Platinum Award in the Oil and gas sector for tax compliance in Uganda’s energy sector. Mbarara University of Science and Technology on the other hand won a platinum award for being a respected public institution accredited by the National Council for Higher Education.
Neolife International (Pty) Ltd won the Vantage Award in the non-individual category.
Why they were awarded
URA’s gesture was in recognition of outstanding companies and individuals who enabled them surpass their tax collection target for the financial year 2024/25.
URA surpassed its tax collection targets for the 2024/25 financial year, collecting sh31.63 trillion against a target of sh31.37 trillion. This represented a surplus of over sh262 billion and an achievement of 100.84% of the target.
The tax body attributed the success to a resilient economy, improved tax administration, and enhanced use of technology like the digital tax stamps system and compliant tax payers.
John Musinguzi Rujoki, the URA commissioner General said that the progress they were celebrating was a signal that they must accelerate their collaborative commitment to compliancy, efficiency and national self-reliance.
He made the comments during their annual Thanksgiving Service that was held at their headquarters in Nakawa last Friday.
“Uganda’s economic sovereignty will be built through consistent domestic revenue growth, a shared commitment to compliancy and integrity,” he said.
He added that Uganda’s financial independence will be built through millions of consistent decisions to comply, to contribute and to uphold integrity.
“This gathering marks the culmination of the deliberate journey under the theme together building Uganda,” he said, adding that for two decades now URA has been having taxpayer appreciation seasons.
“This symbolizes our commitment to transparency and national partnerships.”
He added that many people have learn that it is no longer the responsibility of government alone, or of URA, but it is the responsibility of all citizens.
“This year’s season has been bold in scale and ambition, and that the theme of building Uganda together, is a strategic reminder that the modern economy we all aspire to have can be cannot be built by just government, but it is a shared responsibility, discipline and ambition,” he said.
“We moved across the country to our respective regional stakeholders, and held different integrity forums and took this time to listen, to learn and to recognize our outstanding players in the different communities and to engage and strengthen one another,” he said.
Musinguzi added that integrity forums are an important layer to URA’s mission, that a strong revenue system is rooted in ethical conduct.
He noted that in the last financial year, URA was able to collect sh31.6 trillion against the target of sh31.3 trillion, registering a growth of 16.8% from the previous year.
Other Tax payers
Hese include Sarah Kisubi Nansamba, who won Vantage Award in the
Individual category, Tiross Manufacturers (U) Ltd, which won the Vantage Award- Non-Individual in the Central Region, Muzeeyi Moses, who won Vantage Award-Individual in the Central Region, and SSG Granites Limited.
Other awardees included Vantage Award- Non-Individual, Kampala Metro Office, Isiko James, who the Vantage Award – Individual, Kampala Metro Office, Restless Development, which won the Vantage Award- Non-Individual, Eastern Region and Jayant Patel, who won the Vantage Award – Individual, Eastern Region.
URA awarded more tax payers who included Geneva Global Uganda, which won the Vantage Award – Non-Individual – Northern Region, Anna Apio, who won the Vantage Award – Individual Northern Region, Palm Corps Ltd, which won the Vantage Award – Non-Individual, West Nile Region, Obicale Rhonnie, who won the Vantage Award – Individual, West Nile Region, as well as Holy Innocents Children’s Hospital, which won the Vantage Award Non-Individual South Western Region.
Others who were awarded include Justus Nahabwe, who won the Vantage Award – Individual, South Western Region, Daj Communications Limited, which won the Vantage Award – Non-Individual, South Western Region, Crispus Oscar Bamusede, Vantage Award – Individual, Mid-Western Region, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), which won the Commissioner General’s Award, Vision Group, which won the Commissioner General’s Award for Tax Education and Uganda Christian University, which walked away with the Commissioner General’s Strategic Partner of the Year.
Musinguzi said that the taxpayers they honored embody a mindset of discipline, resilience and a clear understanding of a shared national responsibility.
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