The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has issued a response following complaints from traders and members of the public regarding the handling of goods in transit. These complaints, primarily voiced through social media platforms, allege that URA agents removed goods from transit and failed to return them, sparking concerns about transparency and professionalism in the handling of imported goods.
Among the grievances expressed by traders and individuals are accusations of unprofessional behavior by URA staff during the verification process. Some claim to have witnessed goods being mishandled and containers being tampered with during inspections, raising questions about the integrity of the verification procedures conducted by URA agents.
Questions have also been raised about the legality of URA’s actions, with some individuals questioning why permission was granted to URA to handle containers without consulting the owners first. Concerns have been raised about the potential for unauthorized tampering with goods, as well as allegations of corruption and favoritism towards certain importers.
In response to these concerns, URA has issued a statement seeking to clarify the situation. According to URA, the container in question arrived at the Port of Mombasa with its shipper’s seal intact, indicating that it had not been tampered with during transit. The container was part of a groupage shipment containing goods from multiple importers.
URA asserts that it followed established protocols for goods verification and did not handle the container at the Port of Mombasa. The interception of the container occurred later, at the Dongo Kundu weighbridge in Kenya, due to excess weight. The Kenya Revenue Authority granted permission to open the container to redistribute the weight, and a new seal was affixed after the adjustment.
Furthermore, URA emphasizes its commitment to professionalism and accountability in its operations. The authority states its willingness to work with all parties involved to address any concerns and resolve the matter fairly. URA encourages the owner of the goods to come forward to engage in a thorough investigation of the issue together.
