Airtel Money has introduced a quick and easy way to pay taxes from your phone at any time, anywhere in Uganda, in collaboration with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Stanbic Bank Uganda.
Using the Airtel Mobile App or USSD, taxpayers can now pay their bills without ever leaving their homes or places of business.
Key executives from the three organisations attended the launch, which was held at the Serena Hotel.
Importance of the partnership
Airtel Money’s Segment Head for Taxes, Raymond Sekatawa, emphasised the importance of this partnership.
He said, “We are privileged to have URA standing with us. This partnership creates strong synergy between URA, Stanbic Bank, and Airtel. It will make collecting and paying services easier and more convenient for everyone.”
Stanbic Bank’s Head of Transaction Banking, Ms. Paula Kotse, praised the successful integration of URA systems with Airtel Money.
She noted, “This milestone will drive financial inclusion and enhance domestic tax collection in Uganda. Our partnership with Airtel Money makes it faster and safer for taxpayers to fulfil their obligations. We are also unlocking the potential for small businesses to participate actively in the economy.”
How technology can enhance service delivery
James Odongo, Assistant Commissioner IT at URA, spoke on behalf of the tax authority and emphasised how technology can enhance service delivery.
He stated, “At URA, we have embraced technology to enhance the customer experience. Through this channel, taxpayers can make payments anytime, anywhere, before the due date. We believe in working through partnerships, and we deeply appreciate this initiative from Airtel Money, especially for its inclusion of micro-payers.”
Japhet Aritho, Managing Director of Airtel Money, explained why the launch’s timing is essential.
He explained, “We have the infrastructure — 335,000 agents nationwide — and an open API that allows us to connect with other systems. This means that even someone in a remote area can now pay taxes easily. What was once a complex process has now been simplified. We thank Stanbic Bank for playing a critical role in enabling these financial transactions.”
Customers must dial *185*4#, choose URA, and proceed as directed to obtain their Payment Registration Number.
Airtel Money processed 134 billion shillings in transactions in the past year alone. With this initiative, Ugandans can now complete their tax obligations from any location and in the comfort of their homes.