Financing for Development
Financing for development is about how domestic and international resources contribute to or undermine development. It includes aid, trade, debt, international and national finance, domestic budget and global fiscal governance. The need to mobilise domestic revenue has continued to take center stage at all levels. At the international level, discussions have ranged from the need to curb tax evasion and avoidance to the need to put in place an international body to ensure that countries do not erode each other’s tax bases, and that the international tax system is transparent, coherent and supports equality and development. Domestic revenue mobilization (DRM) is still a major challenge among the East African Community (EAC) countries. EAC countries cannot afford to overlook the increasing government expenditure and inefficiencies in the use of government resources, which are undermining DRM efforts. Countries have resorted to borrowing in order to meet the budget deficits. Unsustainable international debt burdens continue to haunt Uganda and the developing countries and are fast becoming a core obstacle to the international community delivering on its repeated promises to enable sustainable development finance.
SEATINI Uganda focuses on how taxation and debt financing impact on the welfare of citizens. Read More
Therefore the broader objectives of the financing for development programme are;
- To enhance equitable, inclusive, transparent and accountable tax policies and practices at subnational, national, regional and global levels for improved mobilization, allocation and utilisation of revenue.
- To promote policies and practices that support prudent, transparent and accountable debt acquisition and utilization.
Our Interventions under the Financing for Development Thematic Area:
Capacity Building
Over the years, SEATINI Uganda has been able to build the capacity of over 300 civil society actors on Tax Justice. This is an effort to ensure that citizens appreciate the link between tax and development and are thus able to pay their taxes voluntarily and further take part in initiatives aimed at holding government accountable for the revenue collected. Specifically tailored capacity building sessions have been designed for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), youth, women, media, private sector and communities at the grassroots, national and regional level
Research
SEATINI continues to undertake research and evidence-based advocacy that identifies the main bottlenecks within tax systems and provides alternative policy proposals for domestic revenue mobilisation, allocation and utilisation at local, national, regional and international level. Our research also allows for comparison of tax policies and practices in different countries.
Media Engagement
As part of the efforts to put issues on taxation in the public domain, SEATINI Uganda makes use of different media platforms including radio, TV, print and social media. Through the use of these media channels, we are able to raise awareness and gather citizens’ opinions on tax policy which are fronted during advocacy.
Alliance Building and Networking
SEATINI Uganda currently hosts and coordinates the Tax Justice Alliance-Uganda a group of like-minded CSOs working towards a fair, just and accountable tax system in Uganda. SEATINI Uganda is also a member of national, regional and global networks on tax such as Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas (CSCO), the East Africa Tax and Governance Network (EATGN), Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) and the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ). Through these networks and partnerships, SEATINI Uganda is able to work with other CSOs to advance the Tax Justice Agenda at the Local, National, Regional and Global Levels.
Policy Advocacy
SEATINI Uganda continues to engage with various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) some of which include the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Parliament of Uganda, Uganda Revenue Authority, Local Government Finance Commission in order to advance revenue mobilisation alternatives aimed at government adoption of progressive and accountable tax policies in Uganda. As part of the efforts towards engaging citizens in policy advocacy, SEATINI Uganda with other CSOs under the Tax Justice Alliance Uganda has previously held campaigns such as the Campaign against Harmful Tax Incentives in Uganda, Campaign against Taxes on Mobile Money and over the Top services.

