Youth Chart a Way Forward On Domestic Revenue Mobilisation
In commemoration of this year’s Africa Youth Day, SEATINI Uganda in partnership with National Youth Council, Uganda Revenue Authority, Action Aid International Uganda and other partners held a dialogue under the theme; “Youth Led Solutions: Financing Africa’s Development through Domestic Revenue Mobilisation”.
This dialogue, which was held on 2nd November 2021 and aired live on NTV Uganda, brought together University students from across Uganda and the African Continent, Youth and youth led Civil Society Organisations, Private sector, government representatives including Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda Revenue Authority, Parliament of Uganda and Media.
The dialogue provided a timely opportunity for the youth in Uganda and the rest of Africa to offer their insights on Domestic Revenue Mobilisation (DRM) and how DRM can be used as a tool to address the emerging challenges of a post pandemic Africa for youth.
In his opening remarks, Mr Xavier Ejoyi, Executive Director, Action Aid International Uganda reiterated that if anyone in this country disregards, ignores or undermines the role of the young people, it will be at that person’s own peril. Soon or later, that person’s business will be no more. “Action Aid International recognizes that young people are not just for the future, they are for the present and the future,” he added.
On the other hand, Ms Janice Khumalo, the Youth Engagement Lead, African Union Commission highlighted that it is important for youth to understand that moving forward, they have a big role in shaping the continent’s future.
. “The African Union continues to empower youth through different member states in which we have availed different opportunities for youth,”- she said.
“In Uganda, you cannot mobilise resources without involving the youth because they are the majority of the population. The question is how do we translate their skill set into a revenue source?,” Hon. Nyamutoro Phionah, the Female Youth Member of Parliament said.
According to Mr. Jacob Eyeru, the Chairperson, National Youth Council, there is need to find ways of introducing taxes to the youth in ways that will make them accept and welcome them. “The government is preaching new taxation reforms but it is not preaching to the people especially the youth why they need to pay their fair share. We therefore need to sensitize the youth including the ghetto youth on the role of taxation,” he said.
“As Uganda Revenue Authority, we have a strategy that we are implementing for the next five years which is geared towards strengthening stakeholder collaboration through tax education. We believe that the youth will gain a lot in this whole process in terms of acquiring a lot of knowledge,” Mr Isaac Gyagenda, Ag. Supervisor, Tax Education Outreach, Uganda Revenue Authority.
Ms Kataike Martha, Director Kataike Farm Foundation noted that youth are willing to pay taxes but they need a justification on what they are gaining out of it especially the small-scale farmers”.
Mr Allan Muhereza, Team Lead, Youth for Tax Justice observed that it is the young people who are indirectly shouldering a great burden of taxation”.
SEATINI Uganda continues to work closely with the youth to ensure that their voices are heard especially in tax related processes.
