Editor
Over the past year, the Uganda Revenue Authority has reported a significant 42 percent increase in revenue collections at the Katuna border.
Edrine M Mutebi, the Acting Assistant Commissioner of Public and Corporate Affairs at the Uganda Revenue Authority, attributed this surge to the removal of travel restrictions on Rwandan Nationals entering Uganda, which facilitated unrestricted trade between the two nations.
Mutebi highlighted that prior to the closure of the Katuna border in February 2019, revenue collection stood above UGX 1 billion. Upon the border’s reopening in 2022, the figures saw a substantial increase, with over UGX 2.7 billion collected.
By 2023, the collections had further risen to UGX 3.8 billion, marking an impressive 42% growth. He underscored the strategic significance of the Katuna border post for Uganda and its neighboring countries.
Christmas Byarugaba, the town clerk of Katuna town council, explained that with the reopening of the Katuna border, the town council, which used to collect 0.5%, experienced a surge in local revenue between 40% and 45% of the taxes collected. The free movement of Rwandan Nationals into Uganda for trade contributed to this substantial increase.
The 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, there was a revival in economic activities. Businesses that had previously collapsed at the border resumed operations, driven by the renewed movement of Rwandan Nationals into Uganda for trade.
