The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has assured Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Gulu City that they can import assistive devices such as crutches and wheelchairs without paying import taxes.
The announcement came during a tax education outreach held in Gulu last week, part of URA’s ongoing efforts to promote inclusive tax compliance and business formalization across Uganda.
Speaking to dozens of PWDs involved in small businesses like tailoring and farming, URA facilitator Sharon Natukunda explained how participants could register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and maintain proper financial records to qualify for available tax incentives.
“This is our first engagement with PWDs in Gulu,” said Natukunda. “We’ve been to Kampala and Lira, and we promise to engage more often.”
Assistive Devices Are Tax-Exempt for PWDs
Many attendees were unaware of their entitlement to tax exemptions for mobility devices. URA officer Andrew Kyakonye clarified, “PWDs are legally entitled to import assistive tools like wheelchairs and crutches tax-free. But the exemption applies only if they import the items directly—not through third parties.”
Kyakonye warned that relying on business agents could void this benefit, urging PWDs to handle the import process themselves to receive full exemptions.
Empowering Marginalized Groups
The initiative is part of URA’s broader campaign to demystify tax compliance and improve voluntary registration, particularly among underserved communities.
URA credits these outreach efforts with helping boost domestic revenue. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, URA collected UGX 23.6 trillion (approx. $6.2 billion)—a 16.4% increase from the previous year. Uganda’s current tax-to-GDP ratio is 13.7%, slightly above the Sub-Saharan African average but still short of the 15% target advised by the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF).
Officials say integrating PWDs into the tax system is both a moral and strategic move to expand Uganda’s tax base and strengthen local economic development in line with the country’s Vision 2040 goals.
