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Home Business URA, UMA Tax Clinics Spotlight Manufacturing’s Role in Uganda’s Economic Growth

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URA, UMA Tax Clinics Spotlight Manufacturing’s Role in Uganda’s Economic Growth

Corporate editorUpdated 3 hours Ago1 Mins read17

The ongoing Mid-Western URA–UMA Tax Clinics in Fort Portal have put fresh focus on the manufacturing sector’s growing influence in Uganda’s economic transformation, with tax compliance emerging as a key pillar for sustainable business growth.

Speaking during the clinic sessions, Allen Arinaitwe, Officer for Service Management in Mid-Western Uganda, urged manufacturers to strengthen their financial discipline by clearly separating personal and business expenditures. He noted that the mixing of expenses remains one of the most common compliance gaps affecting businesses, especially small and medium manufacturers.

“If you claim expenses, they must be supported by proper documentation such as receipts, invoices, and delivery records,” Arinaitwe said. He emphasised that beyond meeting statutory obligations, proper compliance directly improves a company’s credibility and competitiveness in the market.

“Compliance builds your business reputation and opens doors to greater opportunities, including government contracts. Non-compliance can limit access to opportunities that require tax clearance certificates,” he explained. Arinaitwe added that the Uganda Revenue Authority’s broader mission is to guide businesses toward long-term stability and expansion through voluntary compliance.

“Our goal as URA is to support you to comply, grow your business, and contribute to national development,” he said. The business-focused clinic also highlighted the wider economic value of manufacturing in Uganda’s development agenda. Gilbert Kibekityo, Manager for Research, Policy and Advocacy at UMA, described the sector as one of the country’s strongest drivers of inclusive growth. According to Kibekityo, manufacturing continues to make a significant contribution to domestic revenue collection while sustaining livelihoods for millions of Ugandans.

“The manufacturing sector remains a cornerstone of growth, contributing significantly to tax revenue, employing over two million Ugandans, and creating opportunities across the entire value chain,” he noted. The tax clinics are expected to strengthen collaboration between regulators and manufacturers, particularly in fast-growing regions such as Mid-Western Uganda, where industrial activity is steadily expanding.

As Uganda pushes for industrialisation-led growth, the message from Fort Portal was clear: stronger compliance systems, better record keeping, and closer engagement with tax authorities will be essential in helping manufacturers scale, access larger markets, and play an even bigger role in national economic transformation.