LIST: Ruparelia Group, 50 others honored as URA lists Uganda’s top taxpayers

KAMPALA, UGANDA: Ruparelia Group – owned by businessman Sudhir Ruparelia has been listed among Uganda’s top tax-payers recognized by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in the 2021 Tax-payers Awards.

The Annual Taxpayers Awards Ceremony held on Friday at the URA head offices in nakawa, Kampala was a culmination of a two-months Taxpayers Appreciation Season listing Uganda’s top compliant taxpayers.

Mr. John Rujoki Musinguzi, URA’s Commissioner-General in his speech at the ceremony described the moment as a special and said despite the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, they managed to perform well between July and November because of compliant taxpayers.

“One of the reasons why this is special is that as an organization it is a crowning moment for a series of events that we have been having to celebrate 30 years of existence. We started this season on the 15th of September at Kololo airstrip when we had a thanksgiving ceremony to celebrate the small and medium taxpayers across the country and extend a hand in a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) to a number of institutions. So, today marks the end of that season of celebration and appreciation of our valued partners in the journey of developing our nation,” Musinguzi said.

He added that URA is widening the tax base by adopting and deploying modern technology like artificial intelligence and data analytics to identify all potential sources of revenue.

Mr Musinguzi said that URA is instituting mechanisms through which all qualifying citizens and economic players will be able to make their fair contribution to the revenue basket and these are all within the ambit of the Domestic Resource Mobilization Strategy.

Speaking as Chief Guest, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said through taxes, government is able to build roads, hospitals, schools, security and finance on its own budget.

Currently, he said that Uganda finances only 50% of her budget, meaning that he has to borrow the remaining 50%. As a result, he said the aim is now to increase the tax to GDP ratio from the current 13% to about 20%.

Some of the compliant taxpayers and partners who were awarded included; Davis & Shirtliff, Housing Finance Bank, Citi Bank, and New Vision.

Below is the full list of companies and individuals that URA honored at the taxpayer awards ceremony

Excel Awards

• Winner: Citi Bank
• 1st runner-up: Davis & Shirtliff
• 2nd runner-up: Housing Finance Bank

CG’s Awards

1. Strategic Media Partner: New Vision
2. Strategic MDA: URSB
3. Strategic MDA: UPDF
4. Strategic Professional Body: International Institute of Internal Auditors and SEATINI
5. African Tax administrators’ forum
6. Vantage Awards
7. Classic Africa Safaris
8. Pride Microfinance Bank
9. Michael Kimoni (Individual)
10. Mbale DLG (Eastern Region)
11. United Worldwide Forwarders (Eastern Region)
12. Rajbir Rai Singh (Individual – Eastern region)
13. St. Jude Children’s Home (Northern Region)
14. Christopher Dau (Individual – Northern Region)
15. Millenium Security Ltd (Western region)
16. DHL (Logistics)
17. Goodman Muhangi (Individual – Western Region)
18. Fido dido (Manufacturing)
19. MDA: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
20. Wholesale: Home Uganda Ltd and Royal Pharma Uganda Ltd
21. Agriculture: Incafex Ranches Uganda
22. Real Estate: Madati (Individual)
23. Uganda Clays – Large taxpayer (Construction)
24. Country Motel, Koboko
25. Trailblazer wards
26. Eco Bank
27. United Bank for Africa Uganda Ltd (UBA)
28. Spedag Interfreight
29. Nice House of Plastics
30. Lifetime Achievers awards
31. Allen Kagina
32. Doris Akol
33. Gerald Ssendawula
34. Justine Zaake
35. Keith Muhakanizi
36. Recognition
37. Ruparelia Group of Companies
38. Movit Products
39. Kakira Sugar
40. Tororo cement
41. Stanbic Bank
42. MTN Uganda
43. Spedag Uganda
44. Mext Media Services
45. Vision Group
46. Photogenix Uganda
47. Huawei Uganda
48. Harris International
49. Lugazi Sugar
50. Roofings Ltd