Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has become the first government agency to introduce Braille
Technology for visually impaired persons in its all inclusive policy as they drive to widen the tax base. The move has been welcomed by the movement for the disabled persons who in most cases struggle to access government and public services.
This is in line with URA’s overarching strategy that seeks to “Promote a taxpaying culture through
engaged citizenry, productive partnerships, leveraging technology, data and innovative staff,” according to the URA boss. The URA Tax Education Strategy (FY 2020-25) drawn in line with the organisation’s growth strategy focuses on several segments, among which is a Visually Impaired taxpayers form – a continuum of taxpayers that need special attention. These, for so long, have been fenced out in the design of information access, policies and literature.
URA Commissioner General John Rujoki Musinguzi explained the rationale of introducing braille technology in tax education noting that its meant to simplify tax education and make it available for everyone regardless of their physical and health status.
This is, musinguzi said is in line with URA’s overarching strategy that seeks to “Promote a taxpaying culture through engaged citizenry, productive partnerships,leveraging technology, data and innovative staff.”
In reaching out to the visually impaired taxpayers, during the launch of the braille technology Musinguzi said, URA said it is justifiable to use available opportunities and capacities so that the clients under this category do not feel left out. “The rationale of this inclusive tax education strategy leans on the provisions of the Equal Opportunities Commission Act, 2007.”
He noted that URA seeks to build capacity among this special category of taxpayers by customising tax education content to ease access to information. The technology targets taxpayers who are visually impaired but with the ability to read, write/type and understand braille system.
“The rationale of introducing braille technology in tax education is to simplify tax education and make it available for everyone regardless of their physical and health status” said the URA Commissioner General. He added that this is to make special clients understand their rights and obligations as taxpayers.
“As stated in the URA Client Service Charter, the technology will enable visually impaired taxpayers understand URA services, products, processes and procedures summarised in the transcribed starter packs. This is a new area that URA had not yet ventured into yet it is also important in “developing Uganda together .” It should be noted that URA is an organization that does not discriminate aiagnst its clients.
