Source: Government of Qatar
Doha, October 04, 2026
HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met on Sunday with HE Mufti of Al Quds and the Palestinian Territories Sheikh Mohammad Ahmad Mohammad Hussein, who is visiting the country.
The meeting discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, and the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to a number of issues of common interest.
Source: Government of South Africa
Police arrest 670 wanted suspects
Police have arrested more than 670 suspects in Gauteng for serious and violent crimes as part of Operation Shanela II, led by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni.
The suspects were on the run after committing serious and violent crimes, including murder, armed robbery, rape, fraud, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, housebreaking and theft.
“These suspects were arrested during the first phase of the operation, where the detectives were tracing wanted suspects,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement.
They will appear at different Magistrate’s Courts in due course.
In addition, police arrested 14 people during a roadblock in Protea, Soweto.
The operation targeted illegal goods and substances transported by road users. It also searched for stolen, hijacked vehicles and contraband.
“During the roadblock conducted in Protea, 14 people were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, nine for possession of drugs, and 13 illegal immigrants were taken in to be processed by Immigration officials from the Department of Home Affairs,” the police said.
Meanwhile, other districts also conducted weekend operations that resulted in the arrest of 86 people in Tshwane District, 45 in the West Rand District, 29 in Sedibeng District, and 22 in Ekurhuleni District.
Mthombeni commended the detectives and operational teams for their continued efforts to track down wanted suspects and disrupt criminal activities through intelligence-driven and integrated policing operations. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Source: APO
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), and the East African Business Council (EABC) have signed the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) Agency Agreement, connecting the region’s enterprises, including SMEs and major exporters, to the 300-million-strong EAC Common Market, and the wider AfCFTA market of 1.3 billion consumers, through digital trade.
The Agreement was signed recently at the inaugural East Africa CEO & Investment Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between the two organisations.
The EABC has been actively promoting the digital ecosystem to its members and supporting their onboarding. In so doing, the partnership combines EABC’s regional business network with ATG’s digital trade services to help businesses find verified buyers and suppliers across Africa and beyond, access information on trading partners and connect with finance and payment solutions.
The partnership which carries significance for East Africa and the continent at large, enables the East African Business Council (EABC) join a growing network of trade-supporting institutions across Africa that work together to connect businesses with opportunities beyond their regional markets. Strengthening these connections will help more businesses expand across borders and capitalise on the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mr Haytham El Maayergi, Executive Vice President – Global Trade Bank, Afreximbank commented: “Trade is built on connections, but for many businesses, identifying trusted partners and accessing the right services to trade across borders can be a significant challenge. The Africa Trade Gateway is designed to bridge that gap by connecting businesses with trusted buyers, suppliers, financial institutions and the services they need to turn opportunities into real transactions. Our collaboration with EABC is helping more businesses within East African access new markets with greater confidence. By leveraging the trusted networks and digital services available through the Africa Trade Gateway, businesses can build meaningful connections, unlock new opportunities and participate more actively in Africa’s growing digital economy. As more businesses successfully connect and trade, the network becomes stronger, creating a virtuous cycle of opportunity and growth across the continent.”
In his remarks, Mr. Ahmed Farah, CEO, East African Business Council said: “EABC is empowering East African enterprises with knowledge on AfCFTA market opportunities, Rules of Origin, tariff concessions, customs procedures and export requirements, complemented by tailored advisory support on market entry and export readiness. As a trade corridor partner for the Afreximbank Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), EABC is connecting enterprises to the ecosystem, enabling access to business-to-business matchmaking and trade finance solutions that can facilitate intra-African trade under the AfCFTA.”
Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) is Afreximbank’s flagship digital trade ecosystem, connecting businesses, financial institutions, and trade partners across Africa and beyond. From a single integrated platform, it links businesses to trusted counterparties and trade-enabling services — trade finance, payments, compliance, logistics, and market intelligence — to facilitate cross-border transactions.
Launched in June 2023, ATG now operates in more than 45 African countries, connecting 45 trade-supporting institutions, 110 commercial banks, and 25,000 verified companies, with an opportunity pipeline of USD 4.5 billion across commodities, minerals, oil and gas, FMCG, and other African-made products. By consolidating the services trade requires, ATG helps businesses trade with greater confidence, efficiency, and scale.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.
Media Contact:
Afreximbank
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com
EABC
Email: communications@eabc-online.com
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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A strong supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), Moody’s (Baa2) and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com
About EABC:
The East African Business Council (EABC) is the apex advocacy body of private sector associations and corporates from the 8 East African Community (EAC) Partner States (Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Federal Republic of Somalia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan). Established in 1997, EABC strives for excellence and is the most renowned regional platform for businesses to present barriers to trade & investments and jointly chart out solutions to ease the cost of doing business, drive growth on intra-regional trade and investments and advance reforms for a diversified, competitive, export-led, integrated and sustainable economy in East Africa. EABC’s raison d’être is to seek change in public policy to enhance a conducive environment for business in the EAC.
For more information, visit: www.EABC-Online.com
Source: APO
Mosa Mabuza, CEO of South Africa’s Council for Geoscience (CGS), has been confirmed as a speaker at African Mining Week (AMW) (https://apo-opa.co/4iZMEmD) 2026, taking place from October 14–16 in Cape Town.
Mabuza will participate in the Leveraging Advanced Technologies & AI to Transform Mining Practices for Sustainable Growth panel discussion, alongside representatives from technology, mining and market intelligence companies including Moore Global, S&P Global Energy, KoBold Metals, Smart Innovations Ghana and Geolinks Services. The session will examine how technologies spanning AI, remote sensing, drones and digital mining solutions are transforming mineral exploration, mine development and resource management across Africa.
His participation comes as CGS advances a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening South Africa’s geological intelligence, accelerating exploration and unlocking new investment opportunities across the country’s mineral resource base.
In July 2026, CGS strengthened its international cooperation through a partnership with the Geological Survey of the Netherlands, focused on integrated geoscience mapping, critical raw materials research and policy development under the South Africa–European Union Country Window.
A partnership with global mining company BHP will leverage the company’s global experience in advanced geomapping to map South Africa’s geology, unlock new exploration blocks, and attract fresh capital.
CGS is further advancing the digital transformation of South Africa’s geological information through the development of Africa’s first Virtual Core Library. The initiative is digitizing the country’s national drill-core archive, enabling geological material to be accessed remotely and analyzed using modern technologies to support exploration and scientific research.
The council achieved a significant milestone in July 2026 when its Analytical Services laboratory attained ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, strengthening the quality and international credibility of its scientific and analytical services.
Its February 2026 partnership with Gabon’s Ministry of Mines and Geological Services aims to capitalize on South Africa’s expertise in mining and geological surveys to support the development of Gabon’s mineral sector.
Coming into this picture, AMW 2026 represents an ideal platform for CGS to highlight emerging, lucrative investment opportunities within South Africa’s mining sector. The event will showcase how data-driven exploration can reduce exploration risk, improve efficiency and accelerate the development of Africa’s mineral resources.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
Source: APO
Environmental conservation and community participation remain vital to protecting Kenya’s natural ecosystems while strengthening peaceful coexistence among communities that depend on shared natural resources.
The General Officer Commanding Central Command (CENTCOM), Major General Kamoiro, accompanied by the Commander Operation Maliza Uhalifu (OMU), Brigadier A. M. Saman, and other senior Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) commanders, joined local communities and conservation stakeholders during the fifth edition of the Mukogodo Walk Wild event held at Lokusero in Mukogodo Forest.
Mukogodo Forest is Kenya’s largest dryland forest ecosystem and an important wildlife corridor connecting the landscapes of Laikipia, Isiolo and Samburu counties. Beyond its ecological significance, the forest supports surrounding communities and wildlife, making its conservation critical to environmental sustainability and harmonious coexistence.
Hosted at Lokusero Secondary School, the annual Mukogodo Walk Wild brought together local communities, conservation partners, corporate organisations, government agencies and multi-agency security personnel to promote environmental awareness and undertake practical conservation activities.
Participants took part in guided forest walks and nature trail experiences designed to deepen their appreciation of the forest ecosystem and its biodiversity. The event also featured tree planting and ecosystem restoration activities, conservation awareness campaigns, cultural performances and exhibitions showcasing local heritage.
The activities provided an opportunity for participating organisations and communities to strengthen collaboration in safeguarding the Mukogodo ecosystem while highlighting the important relationship between conservation, livelihoods and security.
Also present was the Member of Parliament for Laikipia North Constituency, Hon. Sarah Paulata Korere, alongside local community and conservancy leaders.
KDF participation in the Mukogodo Walk Wild highlights the broader contribution of the military to environmental stewardship and community engagement. Through cooperation with communities, conservation organisations and other government agencies, the KDF continues to support initiatives that protect critical ecosystems while fostering trust and peaceful coexistence.
The engagement further demonstrated the value of multi-agency and community partnerships in addressing environmental challenges, strengthening resilience and preserving Kenya’s natural heritage for future generations.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.
Source: APO
Advances in specialised medical care are strengthening the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) health system, expanding access to complex treatment while reducing the need to refer patients to external healthcare facilities.
Defence Forces Memorial Hospital (DFMH) has achieved a major medical milestone after successfully conducting its first red blood cell exchange using the newly acquired Spectra Optia® apheresis system.
The procedure, performed at the hospital’s Renal Unit on 2 October 2026, involved a 15-year-old female patient living with sickle cell disease. Its successful completion marks an important expansion of DFMH’s capacity to manage complex blood disorders through specialised and technology-enabled care.
Apheresis is an advanced blood-processing procedure that selectively separates specific components of a patient’s blood while returning the remaining components to the body. The technology enables clinicians to undertake specialised therapeutic procedures tailored to particular medical conditions.
During a red blood cell exchange, abnormal or sickled red blood cells are removed from the patient’s circulation and replaced with compatible donor red blood cells. This reduces the proportion of sickled cells in the bloodstream and can form part of specialised management for patients with sickle cell disease.
The introduction of the capability at DFMH represents more than the successful completion of a single procedure. It expands the hospital’s ability to provide specialised haematological interventions within the KDF healthcare system, enabling eligible patients who require red blood cell exchange to access the service at the facility.
The acquisition of the Spectra Optia® system also provides a platform for the progressive development of other therapeutic apheresis procedures and advanced transfusion support.
As the service develops, it is expected to strengthen multidisciplinary management of patients with complex haematological and other conditions requiring specialised blood-component therapy.
For KDF personnel, their families and other eligible beneficiaries, the new capability enhances access to advanced medical treatment while strengthening continuity of care within the military health system.
The milestone demonstrates DFMH’s continued advancement as a specialised referral facility and highlights the role of modern medical technology, skilled healthcare professionals and sustained capability development in improving patient outcomes.
By integrating advanced therapeutic technologies into clinical practice, DFMH continues to strengthen its capacity to provide comprehensive, specialised and patient-centred healthcare in support of the health and well-being of the Defence community.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.
Source: APO
West Africa is marking the fifteenth anniversary of the Ouagadougou Partnership (OP) this year. Launched in February 2011 in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), this unique regional cooperation framework has helped place family planning at the heart of public health priorities in nine West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo).
Fifteen years after its creation, the Ouagadougou Partnership has established itself as a regional space for dialogue, mobilisation and collective action, bringing together governments, civil society, young leaders, implementing partners, donors and researchers around a shared ambition: to advance rights and access to sexual and reproductive health and family planning in French-speaking West Africa.
Over fifteen years, the OP has contributed to major advances: stronger national policies, greater mobilisation of domestic and external resources, improved service provision and sustained advocacy for sexual and reproductive health and rights / family planning (SRHR/FP). Thanks to the commitment of the nine member countries, the number of female users of modern contraceptive methods has risen significantly, creating a regional momentum that must now be accelerated to reach 13 million female users by 2030. (https://apo-opa.co/4hpnahi)
A few cumulative figures over 15 years:
Beyond these figures, these advances reflect fifteen years of collective mobilisation to enable more people, particularly women and young people, to have the information, services and choice they need to decide freely about their reproductive health.
“These fifteen years show what can be achieved when countries, civil society, young leaders, researchers and partners work hand in hand. Our responsibility today is to preserve these gains while accelerating our efforts so that the 2030 ambitions translate concretely into the lives of women and young people in West Africa.” Marie Ba, Director of the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit.
This celebration is an opportunity to highlight a regional dynamic: all nine OP countries (https://apo-opa.co/4jCRc2q) can count on National family planning action plans (PANB-PF) or National plans for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent and older people health (SRMNIA) under implementation or renewal, which supports better planning and integration of family planning policies.
In 3 of the 9 countries (Niger, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire), access to family planning methods is completely free of charge across the entire national territory, and the possibility of free access is under consideration in Guinea. In the remaining countries, access is made possible through relatively controlled costs.
Some achievements, by country
|
Benin (https://apo-opa.co/4rJkb6J) |
Burkina Faso (https://apo-opa.co/4rMlKAV) |
Côte d’Ivoire (https://apo-opa.co/3VrJWg4) |
|
Guinea (https://apo-opa.co/3Vv9wAH) |
Mali (https://apo-opa.co/3ViXlqG) |
Mauritania (https://apo-opa.co/4jFAjUR) |
|
Niger (https://apo-opa.co/4jCR8zI) |
Senegal (https://apo-opa.co/4rK4b4u) |
Togo (https://apo-opa.co/4hDuQNb) |
In 2022, the OP also adopted a “research agenda” aimed at informing the decisions of national authorities and partners with locally produced evidence (https://apo-opa.co/4huE0eP); eight research projects, led by West African institutes, have already been funded and their findings now help to steer public family planning policies in practical terms.
This determination to bring research closer to public decision-making is also a key focus of the OP: producing knowledge rooted in West African realities and ensuring that it can feed into policies, financing and programmes.
In 2023, the Annual Meeting of the Ouagadougou Partnership, held in Côte d’Ivoire, was marked by an announcement that made history: the Ivorian Prime Minister raised the national budget for the procurement of family planning products from 400 million to 2.5 billion XOF. This decision illustrates the growing importance of mobilising domestic resources to ensure the sustainability of progress in family planning. In Mali, an employers’ fund has been set up to support reproductive health and family planning. As 2030 approaches, the challenge will be not only to mobilise more national financing, but also to ensure that the commitments made translate durably into budgets and public policies. This is the context for the Ouagadougou Partnership’s ministerial round table held on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, which was attended by ministers of health and finance.
The Ouagadougou Partnership is much more than a regional initiative: it is a coalition of actors (governments, civil society and technical and financial partners) united around a common cause. Each, at its own level, mobilises its expertise and its resources to reduce the unmet need for family planning in West Africa. Its strength lies in this ability to bring actors together around shared priorities, to foster accountability and to turn political commitments into concrete action for women, young people and communities.
Now in its fifteenth year, the OP is therefore entering a new chapter in its history. While significant progress has been made, unmet need for family planning persists, and the regional context calls for preserving gains even as efforts are accelerated.
The course set for 2030 is clear: to reach 13 million users of modern contraceptive methods, while contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 3 and to equitable access to quality sexual and reproductive health services based on rights and free choice.
This ambition reminds us that family planning is not solely a health matter. It affects the lives of women and girls, their educational opportunities and their participation in economic and social life. It therefore contributes more broadly to the development of our countries, in particular to gender equality, poverty reduction, governance and sustainable development.
The next five years will be decisive. The Partnership calls for strengthening the mobilisation of domestic resources, preserving access to services in all contexts, better integrating the needs of young people, supporting civil society organisations and continuing to make data and research tools serving public decision-making.
The OP invites all its stakeholders — states, civil society, implementing partners, donors, media, young people and researchers — to pursue their efforts so that every woman and every young person, wherever they live in West Africa, can fully exercise their rights and access quality services that meet their needs and aspirations.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Speak Up Africa.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Armelle Nyobe
Communications Manager – UCPO
anyobe@partenariatouaga.org
Ms Jensiah Ohouo
Communications Officer – UCPO
johouo@partenariatouaga.org
Source: APO
Finance Minister Hon. Henry Musasizi has challenged businesses to turn Government’s wealth creation and affordable financing initiatives into larger, profitable and export-oriented enterprises, as Uganda seeks to build a US$500 billion economy by 2040.
Speaking at the 17th National Competitiveness Forum held at Serena Hotel, Kampala, Musasizi said the Forum, themed “From Funds to Firms: Turning GoU Wealth Creation Initiatives into Competitive Enterprises for Uganda’s US$500 Billion Economy,” is aligned with the ongoing FY2027/28 budget consultations.
“The proposals arising from this Forum will inform budget prioritization going forward,” Musasizi said.
He said Uganda must do things differently under NDP IV and the Tenfold Growth Strategy by sustaining economic growth of about 8% annually over the medium term, increasing productivity, formalising businesses, creating productive jobs and improving household incomes.
“The challenge we must address going forward is how to significantly increase productivity,” he said, noting that productivity is critical for sustaining high economic growth and creating productive employment.
Musasizi said Government has invested heavily in catalytic financing to de-risk private investment and expand access to affordable capital.
By June 2026, Government had provided Sh4.4 trillion under the Parish Development Model, about Shs 760 billion under Emyooga and Shs 1.35 trillion through the Agricultural Credit Facility, which has reached 14,000 projects and beneficiaries.
Government has also capitalised Uganda Development Bank to Shs 1.6 trillion, while the Small Business Fund has a total capitalisation of Shs 200 billion. The US$217 million GROW Project supports women-led enterprises, while Sh176 billion has been provided to support large-scale commercial farmers.
Uganda Development Corporation has an equity investment portfolio valued at about Sh1.4 trillion, generating more than 5,400 jobs across agro-processing, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
“Government is resolute to support business growth and transformation to large and profitable firms, with a strategic focus on export-oriented enterprises,” Musasizi said.
He urged stronger private-sector partnerships, technology adoption, value addition, improved storage and logistics, quality standards and export financing, while encouraging businesses to exploit opportunities under EAC, COMESA and AfCFTA.
State Minister for Privatization and Investment Hon. Amina Mukalazi called for a shift in Government’s wealth creation programmes from counting beneficiaries to building sustainable enterprises that create jobs, add value and generate exports.
“We must now become just as good at building firms,” Mukalazi said, noting that too much of the support still ends in small, scattered and isolated activities.
She said Uganda’s US$500 billion economy target must be built through millions of households participating in organised value chains rather than producing in isolation.
“There is no road to the US$500 billion economy that goes around the Ugandan household. It must go through it,” she said.
Mukalazi proposed organising household enterprises into clusters linked to anchor companies, aggregators, processors and exporters, giving producers clear markets, standards and prices.
She also called for coordinated Government financing so enterprises can graduate from initial support to working capital and equipment finance, rather than falling out of the funding system.
“Competitiveness is not decided in a room. It is decided at the counter and on a supermarket shelf,” she said, stressing the need for certification, packaging, traceability and branding.
She called for a “one Government, one window” approach to simplify access to support, while urging the private sector to participate as anchor buyers, investors, mentors and partners.
Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Treasury, RamathanGgoobi called for stronger aggregation of Uganda’s fragmented production to help enterprises scale, meet international standards and access export markets.
Ggoobi said Uganda’s exports have risen by about 229% over the past four years, from US$5.6 billion in June 2022 to US$18.4 billion, but enterprises and farms still operate below their potential.
He identified fragmented supply, post-harvest losses, limited value addition and expensive working capital among the key constraints. “We are losing up to 40% of what we harvest,” Ggoobi said, citing inadequate drying yards, storage and transport.
He said Uganda also needs to move away from exporting raw products, noting that value addition is critical to increasing export earnings.
The Finance Ministry is establishing an Export Aggregators Network and Delivery Scheme to bring Government and the private sector together to create reliable links between households, farmers, financiers and foreign buyers. Ggoobi said aggregators should consolidate, standardise, grade and certify products and secure contracts with buyers.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Republic of Uganda.
Source: APO
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), AfriCatalyst and other partners, is convening the 2nd Africa Annual Conference on Credit Ratings in Mauritius from 5 to 6 October 2026.
Held under the theme “Towards Developing African Capital Markets: Rechanneling Africa’s Capital,” the conference brings together policymakers, financial regulators, investors, credit rating agencies, development finance institutions and other financial market stakeholders to examine how stronger credit-rating systems and deeper capital markets can support domestic resource mobilization and sustainable development across Africa.
The conference provides a platform for dialogue on the role of credit ratings in shaping investment decisions, influencing the cost of capital and supporting the development of African financial markets. Discussions will explore ways to strengthen understanding of sovereign and corporate credit ratings, improve transparency in risk assessment and promote conditions that can support greater investment and economic development.
Participants will also examine measures to strengthen domestic capital markets, including improving market liquidity, broadening investment instruments, enhancing market infrastructure and expanding access to local-currency financing. Discussions will consider the role of regional financial institutions, as well as policy and regulatory frameworks that can facilitate greater mobilization of domestic capital for productive investment.
The conference will further explore the intersection of finance and technology, including the application of artificial intelligence, data and financial technology solutions in credit ratings and capital market development. Participants will consider both the opportunities and challenges presented by these innovations and their implications for Africa’s financial systems.
Deliberations will also address international experiences in reserve management and approaches to expanding access to long-term development finance, with a focus on strengthening collaboration among governments, regulators, investors, development finance institutions and credit rating agencies.
Speakers and panelists include senior representatives of the Government of Mauritius, the Bank of Mauritius, ECA, APRM, the African Union, UNDP, African and international credit rating agencies, development finance institutions, regional financial institutions, investors and other African and international organizations.
The conference contributes to policy dialogue on capital market development, domestic resource mobilization and innovative financing approaches, while strengthening collaboration among key financial market stakeholders to advance Africa’s development priorities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Source: APO
Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has called on Members of Parliament to support efforts to broaden the tax base as Government seeks to raise domestic revenue, reduce dependence on borrowing and strengthen fiscal self-reliance.
Speaking during the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) engagement with Parliamentary committees at Serena Hotel in Kampala, Musasizi said Government is targeting an increase in the revenue-to-GDP ratio from the current 14.7% to 20% by FY2029/30. “The answer cannot simply be higher tax rates. We cannot achieve 20% by continuously taxing the same people more,” Musasizi said, urging Parliament to support measures that bring more eligible economic activity into the formal tax system.
He said additional revenue should come from economic growth, broadening the tax base, formalisation, improved compliance, better administration of existing taxes, taxation of emerging economic activity and reduction of revenue leakages. He linked domestic revenue mobilisation to Uganda’s US$500 billion economy ambition under the Tenfold Growth Strategy, saying the country cannot build that economy indefinitely on borrowed resources.
He urged MPs to protect the tax base, support formalisation, digitalisation and information sharing, strengthen accountability and promote tax compliance. “Revenue mobilization and expenditure accountability are two sides of the same coin,” he said, stressing that Government must obtain greater value from every shilling collected.
URA Commissioner General John Rujoki Musinguzi said Uganda’s tax base is changing, presenting new challenges for revenue mobilisation, including structural informality, rapid growth of the digital economy, cross-border businesses and offshore incomes, fragmented data, regional tariff harmonisation and illicit trade. He said the extractive sector also requires specialised tax capabilities, adding that URA is working towards sector formalisation and tightening digital regulation.
Musinguzi said URA will focus on mapping and registering priority sectors, taxpayer education and compliance, and risk-based enforcement.
He also called for stronger information sharing across Government institutions. Finance Committee Chairperson Maximus Ochai, MP West Budama County North, said Parliament wants more time to scrutinise proposed tax measures before the next financial year. Ochai said the timetable for formulating tax policies requires review, proposing that tax bills currently presented to Parliament on April 4 should be brought forward. “With those proposals, we would wish to have the standard reports that inform the greatest tax measures,” Ochai said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Republic of Uganda.
