Uganda’s Cabinet has approved the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) as the country’s Tax Identification Number (TIN), in a move intended to simplify tax registration, improve taxpayer tracking and strengthen revenue collection.
The decision is expected to replace the separate, largely manual TIN-based registration process with a unified identification system for taxpayers.
According to a statement on Cabinet decisions issued after its ninth meeting on August 31, 2026, the current tax registration system has resulted in outdated and inconsistent records, creating challenges in data accuracy, compliance and service delivery.
Justine Kasule Lumumba, Minister of ICT and National Guidance, said adopting the NIN, issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), will establish one consistent identity for every taxpayer.
The system is expected to improve the accuracy of the taxpayer register and strengthen government’s ability to identify and trace taxpayers, while allowing different government data systems to work more effectively together.
Minister Lumumba said the move will help improve tax compliance, reduce revenue leakage and make it easier for citizens to register and communicate with tax authorities.
The decision is further expected to give government greater visibility into worldwide income while strengthening the national identification system.
She said the unified identity system will also provide a more reliable foundation for government planning and the delivery of public programmes.
The NIN is issued through NIRA and is already used as a key identifier for Ugandans and other eligible residents. Under the Cabinet decision, it will now serve the additional purpose of identifying taxpayers.
The decision was among several resolutions made during the Cabinet meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe on August 31, 2026.
