Katakwi grapples with low revenue collection

Katakwi: Katakwi District is grappling with challenges in collecting local revenue, a critical component for improving service delivery.

District Planner Evelyn Atucho disclosed that the district’s lower administrative units have fallen short in meeting their revenue collection targets.

In the 2022/23 financial year, the district aimed to collect 1.5 billion Uganda Shillings in local revenue but managed only 700 million Uganda Shillings, less than half of the target.

Atucho attributed this shortfall to several factors, including limited capacity and competing responsibilities of parish chiefs, who are now heavily involved in implementing the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM).

She also noted that while the Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS) was introduced to streamline revenue collection, its impact has yet to be fully realized.

She further pointed to climate change as a significant factor, impacting livelihoods and consequently, residents’ ability to remit taxes. Additionally, some community members demand more visible benefits from their tax contributions, leading to reluctance in compliance.

Simon Peter Amaitum, LCIII Chairperson of Okulonyo Sub-county, urged the district to help mobilize communities and establish markets, which he sees as vital for revenue collection.

However, Jorem Obukui, Chairperson of Akoboi Sub-county, highlighted a logistical challenge: with only seven days in a week and 20 sub-counties in Katakwi, allocating market days to all sub-counties remains a struggle. He suggested that better scheduling could enhance revenue collection efforts.

The district leadership is now calling for innovative strategies and collaborative efforts to bridge the revenue gaps and ensure improved service delivery for its residents.

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