In a move aimed at easing pressure on importers and safeguarding livelihoods, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has announced a special relief window for traders with cargo stuck in customs warehouses, due to mismanaged group container shipments.
The initiative, unveiled by URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi, allows affected traders to reclaim their goods by June 30, 2025, provided they can prove ownership, pay the necessary taxes, and regularise their documentation.
Speaking during a packed engagement at Sendaula Hall in Kampala, Musinguzi addressed container leaders, freight forwarders, and members of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), assuring them of URA’s commitment to resolving the issue without penalising innocent business people.
“This isn’t fair to those who played by the rules,” Musinguzi said. “Our goal is to free up these goods and keep businesses moving forward.”
According to URA data, more than 130 containers remain impounded across customs stations in Uganda. The majority were part of group shipments where container leaders failed to accurately declare goods or pay due taxes, resulting in penalties and cargo seizures that impacted even compliant traders.
Under the new reprieve arrangement, importers with cargo in group containers can submit sworn affidavits confirming ownership, alongside payment of due taxes, to recover their goods before the deadline.
The move is part of URA’s broader reforms that now require individual Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) for all group shipping declarations. Since the policy change, more than 3,400 shipments have been successfully cleared, indicating a positive impact on compliance and customs efficiency.
Representatives from KACITA, which has been vocal about challenges facing importers, applauded the URA for listening to traders’ concerns. However, the association also cautioned container leaders against negligence.
“While many leaders are diligent, a few are reckless, jeopardising traders’ goods and their businesses,” said KACITA spokesperson Issa Sekitto.
Sekitto noted that according to KACITA’s 2024 Trade Report, Kampala-based traders lose an estimated UGX 50 billion annually due to delayed container clearances, adding that this relief window is both timely and necessary.
He urged affected traders to act swiftly to avoid permanent loss of goods and pledged KACITA’s support in educating traders on how to navigate the relief process effectively.
Hajji Kisitu Asadu, Acting Commissioner for Customs, emphasized that the relief window is not just about releasing cargo, but also about bolstering domestic revenue mobilization, a key objective under Uganda’s 2025/26 national budget.
The budget, presented on June 12, allocated UGX 1.2 trillion toward modernising customs systems and clearing payment backlogs.
These investments underscore government efforts to streamline trade facilitation, improve transparency, and support economic growth through efficient customs administration.
Customs duties remain a vital revenue stream, contributing over 10% of national tax collections according to World Bank data, making compliance reforms like this one essential for sustaining public service delivery.
Musinguzi emphasised that the relief window represents a balance between enforcement and support. By offering this opportunity, URA is extending trust to genuine traders, while signaling continued enforcement against fraudulent practices.
“We’re here to empower businesses, but compliance is the foundation of trust,” Musinguzi said.
With the June 30, 2025, deadline fast approaching, URA and KACITA are intensifying outreach efforts to ensure that affected traders take full advantage of the reprieve.
Public notices, trader sensitisation, and direct coordination with freight agents are underway to prevent further losses and reduce congestion at customs warehouses.
If successful, this initiative could serve as a model for future interventions where government responsiveness and private sector cooperation work hand-in-hand to resolve systemic bottlenecks and keep Uganda’s markets thriving.
