A delegation of senior government officials from South Sudan has praised Uganda’s robust local revenue mobilization and management systems during a benchmarking visit to Mukono District Local Government.
The visit, aimed at learning best practices in governance and fiscal management, was supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The delegation was led by Simon Martine Owani, State Minister for Local Government in charge of Law Enforcement, who expressed appreciation for Uganda’s strides in decentralized governance.
During the visit, Henry Ddamba, the Chief Administrative Officer of Mukono District, welcomed the delegation and highlighted the district’s achievements in strengthening revenue collection.
He noted that Mukono has implemented systems such as the Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS), which has improved transparency, accountability, and efficiency in tax collection.
“Mukono has benefited greatly from these reforms. We are grateful to the Government of Uganda for recognizing our district as a model, and to our taxpayers for their continued cooperation,” Ddamba said.
Hon. Owani commended Uganda’s local governance systems, noting that the delegation’s purpose was to observe how districts manage finances, collect revenues, and oversee council operations.
“We are grateful for the warm welcome and the detailed presentations. The lessons we have learned here will greatly help us strengthen our local governance and fiscal systems back home,” he said.
Hon. Jorem Kabali Kimera, Mukono’s Vice District Chairperson and Secretary for Finance, Planning, and Administration, also thanked the South Sudan delegation for choosing Mukono as a learning partner. He applauded district staff for their preparation and encouraged ongoing regional collaboration.
“We welcome future partnerships and potential investment from South Sudan, particularly in agriculture, livestock, and education,” Kimera added.
The JICA representative, Kohea Sato, highlighted Uganda’s experience in decentralization as a valuable model for taxation, local economic development, and community engagement.
The visit underscores the growing interest in regional knowledge exchange and the importance of leveraging best practices to strengthen governance and revenue systems across East Africa.
