On 6th September 2024, a delegation from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), led by Mr. Okello Joseph, visited the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) at Makerere University to explore potential collaborations aimed at enhancing research capabilities within the academic community. The visit focused on raising awareness of the URA Research Lab and discussing joint initiatives between URA and CoBAMS.
Mr. Okello was accompanied by Mr. Agaba Gerald and Mr. Sebastian Ssebuyiira from URA. Representing CoBAMS at the meeting were Dr. Kintu Ismail from the School of Business and Dr. Kavuma Susan, Head of the Department of Policy and Development Economics.
The Principal of CoBAMS, Prof. Edward Bbaale, warmly welcomed the URA team and expressed his excitement about the proposed collaboration. He acknowledged the immense potential of the URA Research Lab, which was established in May 2022 in partnership with the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER). The lab provides anonymized tax data that can be utilized for advanced academic research and policy development, particularly in the areas of tax policy, economics, public policy, and finance.
Mr. Okello emphasized the value of the URA Research Lab, noting that, “This is a unique opportunity for researchers to access comprehensive tax data that has been collected over the last decade. We hope to bridge the gap between research and policy-making by offering data that informs reforms in taxation and public policy.”
Key points discussed during the visit included a proposal to conduct an awareness campaign within CoBAMS to highlight the underutilized resources of the URA Research Lab. The campaign would target students, lecturers, and other researchers, encouraging them to use the lab’s resources for cutting-edge research.
Dr. Kintu Ismail highlighted the benefits of the proposed collaboration, stating, “This partnership presents a real opportunity for our students to access valuable data for research and to learn from experts in tax policy. It will undoubtedly elevate the quality of our research output.”
Dr. Kasuma Susan also expressed optimism, pointing out that integrating the URA Research Lab’s data into the university’s curriculum would enhance students’ practical understanding of real-world applications in tax administration and policy.
In addition, Prof. Bbaale expressed a desire to formalize the relationship between URA and Makerere University through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership would pave the way for joint research projects, guest lectures, and resource sharing, benefiting graduate students and researchers at CoBAMS.
Mr. Sebastian Ssebuyiira added, “We are eager to see how this collaboration can expand beyond just data sharing. We look forward to working on joint publications and engaging in meaningful discussions that contribute to national development.”
The meeting concluded with both institutions expressing optimism about the future of the collaboration, which promises to strengthen academic inquiry, support tax policy reform, and offer practical training for Makerere University students. Further discussions on formalizing the partnership through an MoU are expected to take place in the coming weeks.