KABALE – The Uganda Revenue Authority has reported a remarkable 42 percent increase in revenue collections at the Katuna border over the past year.
Edrine M Mutebi, the Acting Assistant Commissioner of Public and Corporate Affairs at the Uganda Revenue Authority attributed the surge to the lifting of travel restrictions on Rwandan Nationals entering Uganda, fostering unrestricted trade between the two nations.
He revealed that Prior to the closure of the Katuna border in February 2019, revenue collection stood above UGX 1 billion and that upon the border’s reopening in 2022, the figures soared, with over UGX 2.7 billion collected.
He noted that by 2023, the collections had further increased to UGX 3.8 billion, marking a noteworthy 42% rise. Mutebi emphasized the strategic significance of the Katuna border post for Uganda and its neighboring countries.
CUE IN MUTEBI….ON REVENUE COLLECTIONS…..ENG//
Christmas Byarugaba, the town clerk of Katuna town council explained that the reopening of Katuna border the town council used to collect 0.5%, but with the free movement of Rwandan Nationals into Uganda for trade, local revenue has surged between 40% and 45% of the taxes collected.
CUE IN BYARUGABA….ON LOCAL REVENUE…RR/ENG//
Katuna border faced a challenging period of closure for about four years, starting from February 27th, 2019. However, with the reopening of the border on January 31st, 2022, a revival in economic activities occurred. Businesses that had previously collapsed at the border resumed operations with the renewed movement of Rwandan Nationals into Uganda for trade.
