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Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Revenue Authority of South Sudan (NRA), during a meeting between URA’s Commissioner General John Musinguzi and a delegation from South Sudan at URA offices on September 20, 2023

On September 20, 2023, Commissioner General John Musinguzi of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and a team from South Sudan met at URA offices to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Revenue Authority of South Sudan (NRA).

The agreement will provide the two countries with assistance in digital transformation programmes like the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), tax enforcement planning, information sharing, training, and benchmarks, among other things.

This significant development formalizes and strengthens the already robust relationship between the two neighboring nations.

His Excellency Simon Juach Deng, Ambassador of South Sudan to Uganda, emphasized the importance of this partnership, noting that Uganda is a vital trading partner for South Sudan.

He acknowledged that there is much to learn from Uganda, particularly in revenue mobilization, where URA has been at the forefront.

Musinguzi highlighted the collaborations that have happened between the two countries and thanked the NRA for the support accorded to the URA in cross-border trade.

“Thank you for supporting our joint efforts that have seen our countries create a conducive environment for fair and compliant business as well as fight vices like smuggling,” noted Musinguzi.

His Excellency Simon Juach Deng, Ambassador of South Sudan to Uganda, said the MOU will formalise the relationship that already exists between Uganda and Sudan.

“Uganda is one of the neighbours that we are doing a lot of business with, and we have a lot to learn from them, more so from URA because they are ahead of us in revenue mobilisation,” he said.

Athian Ding, the Commissioner General of the NRA, reassured the URA of their cooperation in the fight against the vice and said tighter border controls would be implemented to mitigate it.

Early this year, URA and NRA signed a bilateral agreement where they resolved to implement joint border patrols and surveillance operations along the borderline with the aim of fighting smuggling, a vice that continues to eat into the revenues of both countries.

This development marks a significant step forward in fostering economic cooperation and stability in the region. It is anticipated that this partnership will not only strengthen trade ties between Uganda and South Sudan but also serve as a model for other neighboring nations seeking to enhance their economic collaboration.

The focus on digital transformation and the sharing of best practices in revenue mobilization could potentially lead to more efficient tax collection systems and increased economic growth for both countries.