The IMF Research Bulletin, a quarterly publication, selectively summarizes research and analytical work done by various departments at the IMF, and also provides a listing of research documents and other research-related activities, including conferences and seminars. The Bulletin is intended to serve as a summary guide to research done at the IMF on various topics, and to provide a better perspective on the analytical underpinnings of the IMF’s operational work.
Bolivia, Mauritania, and Uganda have become the first three countries to receive debt-service relief under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries’ (HIPC) Initiative, the IMF and the International Development Association (IDA) have announced. Relief for Bolivia and Uganda will amount to $1.3 billion each and for Mauritania, to $1.1 billion. The enhanced assistance will be provided after the three countries, in concert with civil society, adopt strategies to reduce poverty and will help finance social expenditures.
This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix describes how to improve value-added tax (VAT) compliance in Uganda. The paper highlights that although the VAT in Uganda has a single positive rate and broad coverage, its initial threshold of U Sh 20 million may have been set too low, and a number of items that should have been exempted were zero rated. This paper presents a brief survey of the financial sector of Uganda. Public sector reforms and the privatization program are also discussed.
Although many African countries have taken important steps toward restructuring their civil services by downsizing them, less progress has been made in revamping pay and promotion policies. Cost-cutting measures need to be accompanied by bold reforms to improve quality.