Governments and stakeholders across the East African Community have been urged to strengthen domestic resource mobilization, improve debt management, and promote regional trade integration as a pathway to sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods. The call was made during the 6th edition of the East African Community Post-Budget Dialogue for the financial year 2026/27, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala.

The Uganda Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; the Ministry of East African Community Affairs; SEATINI Uganda; and other budget initiative partners organized the 6th Edition of the East African Community Post-Budget Dialogue for the Financial Year 2026/27.
Held under the theme "Leveraging Regional Integration through Enhancing Domestic Resource Mobilization, Prudent Debt Management, and Resilient Trade and Investment for Improved Livelihoods in the East African Community," the dialogue brought together government officials, legislators, local government leaders, academia, civil society organizations, and private sector representatives.

Representing the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, the State Minister for East African Community Affairs, Hon. James Magode Ikuya, emphasized the importance of understanding the objectives of the East African Community and its budget framework.

Magode described the East African Community as part of Africa's broader struggle for economic and political liberation, saying regional unity provides the scale needed for African countries to overcome the legacy of colonial fragmentation and external dependence.

Stakeholders from local governments, Parliament, academia, civil society, and the private sector attended the dialogue to deliberate on strategies for strengthening regional economies.

The Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Ireland, Basundhara Tripathy Furlong, shared Ireland's experience in domestic revenue mobilization, noting that the country's highly centralized digital tax system has significantly improved efficiency and revenue collection.

SEATINI Uganda Deputy Executive Director Herbert Kafeero acknowledged that East African countries face different economic challenges but argued that regional integration offers strategic solutions to both internal and external pressures.

Participants called for harmonized tax policies across the region, including excise duty, VAT and customs tariffs, expansion of the tax base, removal of non-tariff barriers and trade distortions, improved cross-border infrastructure, and accelerated adoption of digital tax systems such as e-payments and TIN-NIN integration.
They said stronger regional cooperation remains essential for boosting domestic revenue mobilization, enhancing economic convergence, and improving livelihoods across the East African Community.