Taxpayers can now pay their taxes faster and more conveniently following the launch of enhanced Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) services on MTN MoMo, with the introduction of a new, free URA USSD code *165*18#.
The service was officially launched on Thursday evening at the Sheraton Hotel, Kampala, in a ceremony attended by senior government officials, URA leadership, and executives from MTN Uganda and MTN MoMo.
Addressing taxpayers ahead of the festive season, URA encouraged Ugandans to embrace the new platform. “As you travel to wherever you will be celebrating the festivities from, I encourage you to use the #URAUSSDCODE. It’s free. Just dial *165*18# to get started,” URA said in a public message.
Speaking at the launch, URA Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi described the enhancement as a major step toward a modern tax system. “I am extremely delighted to join this great gathering this evening as we launch the enhanced URA tax payment services on MTN MoMo. This is a milestone that reflects our shared commitment to building a more efficient, inclusive, and modern tax system for Uganda,” Musinguzi said.
The new code allows taxpayers to pay directly from MTN MoMo to URA and the bank, with no session charges, faster processing, and compatibility with any phone. URA clarified that the existing *285# code will continue to operate for other tax services.
Musinguzi noted that the upgrade strengthens the long-standing partnership between URA and MTN Uganda, while significantly improving the taxpayer experience. “The enhanced platform now supports high-traffic PRN and non-PRN tax services, overcoming earlier system and channel limitations. This translates into faster processing, greater reliability, and enhanced convenience for taxpayers—whether large corporations, small businesses, or individual citizens,” he added.
Musinguzi also highlighted URA’s strong revenue performance, attributing it partly to technology-driven reforms. “During the first half of the 2025/26 financial year, URA collected UGX 15.25 trillion in net revenue, surpassing the half-year target of UGX 14.93 trillion. This represents 102 percent performance and a surplus of UGX 322 billion,” he said.
He emphasised that fintech platforms such as MTN MoMo are critical in expanding Uganda’s tax base. “By shifting transactions from cash to digital platforms, economic activity becomes visible and traceable. Informal traders can be identified and gradually integrated into the tax net, enabling the government to broaden participation rather than over-relying on a small number of taxpayers,” Musinguzi said.
The Accountant General, Godfrey Semugooma, welcomed the innovation, describing it as a breakthrough for revenue collection and financial inclusion. “This is a ground-breaking innovation that will benefit all of us, but most importantly, enable revenue collection. It is a clear commitment to a safer, more inclusive digital economy where every Ugandan can participate with confidence,” Semugooma said.
He added that the government will continue to support digital transformation. “We will, as government, continue to invest in digital literacy, consumer protection, and cyber security to ensure that all Ugandans can participate, willfully, safely, and confidently in the digital economy,” he noted.
On the private sector side, MTN MoMo Uganda Managing Director Richard Yego said the service aligns with MTN’s ambition of driving a cash-light society. “It gives us great pleasure to launch a long-awaited service, making simple, enriched, and convenient services accessible from customers’ fingertips through a partnership with URA,” Yego said.
He added: “With this innovation, revenue collection will be done seamlessly, both with PRN and non-PRN. We are bringing simplicity into the hands of the customers we serve as we relentlessly pursue a cash-light society.”
Yego said the integration places modern financial tools directly in the hands of millions. “Today, we are proud to place this simplicity directly in the hands of over 14 million customers and thousands of small businesses,” he said.
