Africa tax administrators unite for common goal

The organisation which was formerly launched by Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni was formed by heads and senior tax administrators of 31 African tax administrations who met in Kampala last week. Member states of the body include; South Africa, Botswana, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Zimbabwe, and Uganda among others.

“Our mission is to mobilise domestic resources more effectively and increase the accountability of our states to our citizens,” Oupa Magashula, the commissioner South Africa Revenue Services told journalists at the end of the three-day meeting.

ATAF plans to develop a joint database of African Tax systems, carry out capacity development events on international and domestic policy and administration issues through a new body, the African Tax Centre.

At the launch of the body, President Museveni urged tax collectors to wean African economies from reliance on foreign aid, by increasing their efficiency and collaboration.

Uganda's Finance Minister Syda Bbumba advised the tax administrators to share experiences and best practices to shore up, widen their taxes bases and boost domestic revenue mobilisation on the continent.