The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has launched a critical relief initiative targeting individual importers whose goods are stuck in customs warehouses due to mismanaged group container shipments.
Unveiled by URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi at a well-attended gathering in Kampala’s Sendaula Hall, the relief window—open until June 30, 2025—allows traders to reclaim their impounded goods by proving ownership through valid affidavits and settling outstanding taxes. The initiative aims to support businesses affected by the misconduct of certain container leaders who failed to properly declare cargo or pay due taxes.
Addressing a crowd of freight forwarders, container leaders, and members of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), Musinguzi revealed that over 130 containers are currently impounded at customs stations nationwide. These shipments were seized after non-compliant group leaders violated customs procedures, leaving law-abiding traders to face penalties and operational delays.
“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.”
The new measure builds on recent URA reforms requiring individual Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) for group shipment declarations—a system that has already cleared over 3,400 shipments since its rollout.
Hajji Kisitu Asadu, Acting Commissioner for Customs, emphasized the broader economic benefits of the relief window. “This initiative not only supports honest traders but also contributes to domestic revenue mobilization, which is a cornerstone of Uganda’s economic strategy,” he said.
The 2025/26 national budget, presented on June 12, 2025, reinforces this effort with a UGX 1.2 trillion allocation for modernizing customs systems and clearing payment backlogs. According to World Bank data, customs duties accounted for 10.27% of Uganda’s tax collections in 2022—highlighting the critical role of smooth trade facilitation in public revenue generation.
KACITA, which has long advocated for reforms in group shipment practices, welcomed the relief but stressed the need for deeper systemic change. Spokesperson Issa Sekitto praised URA’s responsiveness but called for stricter oversight of container leaders.
“While many leaders are diligent, a few are reckless—endangering traders’ goods and threatening their businesses,” Sekitto said, referencing KACITA’s recent campaigns to promote accountability within the freight forwarding ecosystem.
According to KACITA’s 2024 Trade Report, delayed group shipments cost Kampala-based traders UGX 50 billion annually in lost revenue—an urgent problem URA’s relief window is designed to address. Sekitto urged traders to make full use of the opportunity and called on URA to institutionalize long-term safeguards to prevent recurrence.
The relief measure offers a much-needed reprieve for traders grappling with stock shortages and disrupted supply chains across Uganda’s bustling marketplaces. Musinguzi reiterated the importance of partnership and trust: “We’re here to empower businesses—but compliance is the foundation of that relationship.”
KACITA echoed the call for cooperation, with Sekitto pledging joint efforts to guide traders through the process and raise awareness about best practices in cargo declarations.
