KAMPALA, October 8, 2026 — Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has urged entrepreneurs and business owners to operate transparently and honour their tax obligations, saying improved compliance is critical to strengthening Uganda’s revenue base and funding public services.
Speaking at the inaugural National Prayer Breakfast Business Forum at Parliament on Wednesday, Tayebwa said there was a mismatch between the profits declared by some businesses and the taxes they pay to the Uganda Revenue Authority [URA].
He said some business owners earning billions of shillings in profits declare minimal taxes, undermining the country’s efforts to raise domestic revenue.
“We want our entrepreneurs to commit that they will run clean businesses and pay taxes properly. The informal habits that helped you to start might not help you to sustain a business. If you are to run a sustainable business, transparency is going to be very critical,” Tayebwa said.
The Business Forum is one of the activities held as part of the National Prayer Breakfast, which precedes the national Independence Day celebrations.
Tayebwa said the Government needs to promote tax compliance among the business community to generate resources for essential public services and infrastructure development.
“How do you expect us to build more roads, generate more power and provide you with water when we are still hovering around a tax-to-GDP ratio of 14 per cent, yet the sub-Saharan standard is at 17 per cent?” he asked.
“We can push this ratio to around 21 per cent, where we do not put new taxes on you as business people, but make sure that everyone pays their fair share of the tax. This is what we want to look at as Parliament,” he added.
The Deputy Speaker also called for stronger action against corruption in the private sector, saying this would promote integrity and public trust.
“The way we handle cases of corruption by government officials should be the same way we handle cases of corruption by people who frustrate the private sector. If there is a worker who steals money from a factory, we should not look at it as just a civil matter, but rather use the same iron hand because that person is stealing from Ugandans,” Tayebwa said.
He urged the private sector to engage Parliament and identify laws that hinder their value chains and limit employment opportunities.
Tayebwa also called on the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to operationalise the Competition Act, 2024.
He encouraged private-sector leaders to mentor young entrepreneurs and share best practices to ensure continuity and sustainable growth in the sector.
In his keynote address, Emmanuel Katongole, Executive Chairman of Quality Chemicals and Industries, underscored the importance of values such as trust, competence, humility, discipline and integrity in business.
“Integrity reduces the cost of doing business. Profit must never be the only purpose of a business, because an entity that makes an impact is stronger than one that is premised on making money,” Katongole said.
He urged the Government to create an enabling environment for new entrants into the private sector and called on the banking industry to provide avenues for affordable capital.
David Bahati, the co-Chairperson of the National Prayer Breakfast and State Minister for Trade, referred to the theme of the 2026 Prayer Breakfast, “Wake Up, Work Hard and Build Uganda”, describing it as a practical call to action.
“Building Uganda requires a culture of work, enterprise, innovation and responsibility. Government remains committed to creating an enabling environment where entrepreneurs can invest, produce, trade and prosper,” Bahati said.
https://thecooperator.news/fish-maw-traders-petition-parliament-over-taxes/
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