EASTERN PROVINCE

KIREHE — The Minister of Local Government, Protais Musoni has urged residents in the province to always honour their tax obligations.

"It is high time Rwandans realised that paying taxes is a duty of every citizen. No one should push you around to pay taxes. We cannot rely on foreign aid. It is a bad attitude that should not be given room,” Musoni said.

He was on Tuesday speaking as the chief guest at a ceremony to mark the Taxpayer’s Day in Kirehe District.

Thousands of people who included tax payers, officials of Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and local residents from different districts of the province braved the scotching heat to attend the ceremony. 

"It is no more a problem for me to pay taxes. At first I was among those who resisted paying taxes, but today I pay in time,” Jean Claude Havugimana, a tax payer said.

RRA sees the day as very important, in that it brings all stakeholders together.

 "The taxpayers’ Day is an essential step to achieving compliance. It helps to create a strong dialogue among different stakeholders while serving to create awareness on the benefits of compliance, etc,” one RRA official commented.

"The celebration truly provides an opportunity for forging gainful partnerships, breaking business barriers and seizing new boundaries of facilitations.”

It was noted that Kirehe District offers the province one of the best tax payers. The district is also known for high production of quality bananas and maize.

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