SEATINI Uganda conducts training to boost revenue collection
The Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda, has organised a training for local governments aimed at boosting their districts' revenue collection.
Among the success stories is that of Humphrey Otim Benson, the town clerk of Pader Town Council, who is one of the local government officials involved on the project and he oversees the revenue mobilisation, allocation and utilisation processes at the town council.
Otim and his staff conducted property valuation within the town council.
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“As a result there was tremendous increase in revenue from Shs 94 million to Shs 187 million between 2015 and 2016," Otim said.
According to Otim, valuation of property is vital and property tax is one of the sources from which local governments can reap highly, if it is accorded its due attention.
As a result of the revenue increment, the town council took the initiative to allocate funds to service delivery.
“The town council was able to install street lights worth Shs 69,000,000 million within the town council. All the funds allocated to this project were sourced from Local Revenue”, he said.
Otim believes that if the community continues to realize the value for the taxes paid then many more will become compliant.
Wadacholi Kilama, the mayor, Pader town, stressed the importance for local governments to raise their own revenue to influence financing of their development priorities.
