Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has offered them free medical services in a bid to appreciate taxpayers during the Taxpayers’ Appreciation week which ends on Friday.

The appreciation week is an initiative by URA to congratulate Ugandan taxpayers upon complying with paying taxes on time and fully.

In coordination with various hospitals including Mulago Hospital, Lubaga Hospital and other health institutions, the tax Authority is offering services like heart checkups, sickle cell screening, HIV testing, blood pressure testing and antenatal care among others.

According to the Ministry of Health, these free services are meant to extend services to the people that cannot afford hospital bills. So they are glad to have got the opportunity to reach out to Ugandans for it is their duty.

Kasirye Esther, a health worker from Mulago Hospital, who was testing people’s HIV statuses at the event, confirmed that the turn up was overwhelming to an extent that testing strips got used up before the queues were half covered. She added that over 80 people have turned up since yesterday which is bigger than the number received at the hospital.

Kasirye added that if at all it was possible she could have done more checkups so as to ease the work. "I wish strips were more, I would have done more tests," she said.

One of the beneficiaries of the service who tested for sickle cell anaemia was greatful for the service because she got to know her status as a carrier which she had long wanted and was ready to start on the medication.

Ronald Muhumuza, one of the officials from URA, appreciated the Ugandan Taxpayers for abiding to the taxpaying laws. He said, “It's because of their compliance that the occasion has been put up.”