KAMPALA — The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has taken a major step to strengthen institutional resilience. It convened its first-ever Community of Practice on Risk Management, bringing together professionals from across institutions.

The two-day forum, organised in partnership with the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) and Certified Risk Management Professionals (CRMP), focused on one central idea. Risk management must move beyond compliance and shape decision-making at every level.

Rethinking Risk as a Leadership Function

The forum operated under the theme, “Building a Resilient Revenue Authority.” It created space for participants to share insights, align priorities, and explore practical systems. These systems can help organisations stay stable despite financial, digital, and operational disruptions.

Speaking at the event, Joyce Ndirangu challenged institutions to rethink their approach. She emphasised that risk management must become a leadership responsibility. She noted that the future of institutions like URA will depend on how well they understand and act on risk. Therefore, risk management can no longer remain a background function.

Building Resilience in a Changing Environment

Today, revenue agencies face complex challenges. These include digital tax systems, cyber threats, policy shifts, and changing taxpayer expectations. As a result, resilience is becoming both a governance and competitive advantage. Organisations that manage risk effectively are better positioned to adapt and grow.

For URA, this initiative signals a broader shift in public sector thinking. Instead of reacting to crises, institutions are now building systems that anticipate and absorb shocks.

Strengthening Enterprise Risk Management

Emmanuel Bichetero Asiimwe, Assistant Commissioner of Programs Management at the Tax Academy, described the initiative as timely and strategic. He explained that the platform reflects a shared understanding. Effective enterprise risk management is essential for achieving institutional goals and sustaining long-term value.

In addition, he highlighted the importance of connecting people, knowledge, and practice. This ensures that risk discussions lead to real action across daily operations.

From Strategy to Implementation

The forum’s structure reinforced its practical focus.

The first day explored “Risk Maturity & Strategic Execution.” It examined how decisions made at board level translate into operational systems. Meanwhile, the second day focused on Digital Risk & Collaborative Resilience. This included discussions on cybersecurity, system downtime, and data protection. These issues are becoming increasingly critical for public institutions.

A New Platform for Collaboration

The event also marked the official launch of the Risk Management Community of Practice. In addition, URA announced a new partnership between the Tax Academy and CRMP. This partnership aims to strengthen professional learning and build continuous capacity in risk management.

A Shift Toward Long-Term Stability

Beyond the discussions, the forum signals a deeper shift. Institutions are beginning to see risk not as a threat, but as part of strategic growth.

Importantly, resilience is not built during crises. Instead, it comes from strong systems, shared expertise, and a proactive culture. For URA, this shift is critical. As a tax authority, it must safeguard revenue and maintain public trust. Strengthening risk management may therefore be just as important as collecting taxes.