Uganda has officially taken over the chairmanship of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) Exchange of Information (EOI) Technical Committee during its 23rd meeting held in Pretoria, South Africa. This strategic leadership transition marks a significant milestone in strengthening Africa’s cross-border tax cooperation.
Mr. Joseph Balikuddembe of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) succeeds Mr. Femi Edgar of the Federal Inland Revenue Service of Nigeria (FIRS), who has chaired the committee since August 2023. Togo has also assumed the role of vice-chair, replacing Kenya in this capacity.
Mr. Balikuddembe brings a wealth of experience to the role, having led Uganda’s tax transparency and EOI programs since 2015. He has served as Uganda’s representative in key global tax standard bodies, including the OECD Peer Review Group and the Exchange of Information on Request (EOIR) Assessment Panel. Under his leadership, Uganda has earned a “largely compliant” rating for EOIR and has successfully implemented robust confidentiality and data protection frameworks necessary for the automatic exchange of financial information.
In addition to his domestic role, Balikuddembe has contributed internationally as a peer review assessor for countries such as Egypt, Moldova, Gibraltar, and Tunisia. An economist by training, he currently serves as the Supervisor for Exchange of Information on Request (EOI) at URA.
“ATAF emphasizes the skills and expertise needed to guide the EOI Technical Committee’s next growth phase,” said Mr. Anthony Munanda, ATAF’s Head of Domestic Resource Mobilization.
Uganda’s appointment reflects its strong track record in using tax information exchange to improve domestic revenue mobilization through audits and investigations. Its effective practices have been adopted by other African nations through peer learning initiatives and international tax forums. Uganda also plays a pivotal role on the global stage, representing the continent at the OECD Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes.
As chair, Uganda is expected to guide the committee in expanding Africa’s capabilities in international tax cooperation, focusing on curbing offshore tax evasion, addressing transfer pricing issues, and improving cross-border tax recovery mechanisms.
ATAF and its member states have welcomed Uganda’s leadership, expressing confidence in its ability to build on the strong foundations laid by Nigeria and Kenya.
The EOI Technical Committee, established in 2017, operates under ATAF’s Joint Technical Committee and comprises representatives from nine member countries: Cameroon, Eswatini, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, Kenya, and Uganda. It serves as a critical platform for dialogue and strategy on tackling tax-related illicit financial flows and enhancing tax administration across the continent.
Written By: Jerry Laynumah Siakor
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