Mzee Bwanika
The Minister of Finance has challenged URA to widen Uganda’s tax base.
I agree.
But before we ask who else should pay tax, perhaps we should ask a more important question:
“Are we protecting the businesses that are willing to pay tax?”
A while ago, filmmakers through their representative organizations wrote to URA. We did not ask for tax holidays nor exemptions. We asked Government to enforce the law against illegal exploitation of intellectual property because ‘piracy to the creative economy is what smuggling is to the manufacturing sector.’
When counterfeit goods enter Uganda without paying taxes, everyone understands that Government loses revenue. But when a broadcaster commercially exploits audiovisual works without a transparent and lawful rights chain, the discussion is rarely framed in the same economic terms even though the consequences are similar: weakened legitimate businesses, reduced taxable income, and a shrinking formal market.
The result?
An entire industry struggles to grow not because Ugandans don’t create films, but because legal markets struggle to compete with unlawful ones.
If Uganda developed a functioning legal film market through television licensing, digital streaming, DVD publishing, cinemas and community exhibition, the sector alone could generate over UGX 22 billion annually in VAT, based on conservative industry projections.
Imagine what that means when combined with income tax, PAYE, corporate tax and withholding tax across thousands of creative workers.
The challenge isn’t simply finding more taxpayers.
“The challenge is protecting the current businesses capable of paying tax.”
Tax policy begins with market policy.
Protect legitimate trade.
Protect intellectual property.
Strengthen legal distribution.
Reward compliance.
When industries grow, tax revenue grows naturally. That is how countries build sustainable economies. Perhaps Uganda doesn’t need to search harder for taxpayers. Perhaps Uganda needs to work harder to protect its producers.
A WIDER TAX BASE IS BUILT ON WIDER MARKETS, NOT HIGHER EXPECTATIONS.
“What do you think? Can Uganda significantly increase tax revenue without first addressing the structural barriers that prevent creative industries and other sectors from operating in strong, legal markets?”
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Written by
Mzee Bwanika | Film Producer | Co-founder, Pearlwood | Operations Manager, Stream East FilmsWith 20+ years shaping Uganda’s film industry, I’ve produced over a dozen feature films that spotlight authentic East African stories.
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