KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has launched a crackdown on rogue container leaders accused of withholding traders’ goods, evading taxes, and exploiting importers through fraudulent logistics arrangements that have disrupted trade across the country.
In a sharply worded statement Mr. John Musinguzi Rujoki, the URA Commissioner General reaffirmed the authority’s mandate in tax collection, stressing that URA can’t be responsible for holding traders’ merchandise when lawful clearance procedures are followed.
“URA cannot hold a trader’s merchandise when it is in our mandate to clear goods and collect the rightful taxes. Once cargo is processed, it is released without delay,” he said.
The Authority emphasized that challenges being experienced by traders are largely being driven by unscrupulous intermediaries operating as container leaders, who allegedly interfere with the clearance process for personal gain.
He noted that some of these middlemen deliberately delay declaration and clearance of cargo, while falsely attributing such delays to URA procedures in order to mislead traders and justify additional charges.
According to the Authority, this has created a pattern where traders pay their agents in full, but their goods remain undelivered, with container leaders reportedly holding consignments hostage while manipulating documentation and pricing structures.
The tax body further observed that these actors often create artificial bottlenecks in the logistics chain, inflate charges, and shift responsibility to URA in a bid to conceal malpractice.
“Some of these intermediaries are taking advantage of traders by controlling cargo movement and misrepresenting clearance processes. This not only exploits businesses but also distorts the integrity of the trade system,” the URA boss said, adding that the authority has received multiple complaints from traders whose merchandise has remained undelivered despite payments made to shipping agents and logistics handlers operating under different company names.
The Authority stressed that it cannot remain passive while such practices continue to undermine both trade and revenue collection.
The official added that while traders often blame URA for delays, investigations show that the disruptions are largely occurring outside the Authority’s control, within the operations of private logistics intermediaries.
“We cannot sit and watch middlemen extort traders and then shift blame to URA. This behaviour undermines business confidence and also leads to loss of government revenue that is critical for public services,” Said the tax collecting official.
URA reiterated that the ongoing crackdown is aimed at restoring order in the importation and logistics sector and protecting traders from exploitation by fraudulent actors.
According to Mr. Musinguzi, this exercise is meant to safeguard traders and ensure that legitimate businesses operate in a transparent system where goods are cleared efficiently once obligations are met.
The Authority has urged all affected traders to cooperate with ongoing investigations and assist in exposing individuals and companies involved in the vice.
Traders have been directed to report to URA Tower in Nakawa, at the Office of the Commissioner Executive Office Operations on the 16th Floor, where support will be provided to trace and recover cargo upon fulfilment of tax obligations.
They are required to present supporting documents including national identification (Ndaga Muntu), payment receipts, invoices, packing lists, tracking numbers, and correspondence with logistics providers.
URA has also published a list of companies linked to the malpractice, including Busundo Investments, Sifcargo, Odman Holdings, Finiva Logistics, Twine Logistics, Maris Cargo U Ltd, Campsbay Impex, Segtex Logistics, Apex Forwarders, among others.
The Authority warned that the informal container leader model (where intermediaries consolidate goods and manipulate customs processes for profit) must be dismantled to protect traders and strengthen compliance.
The Commissioner General emphasized that URA remains committed to ensuring fair trade, protecting businesses from exploitation, and securing national revenue through transparent systems.
The intervention is expected to bring relief to many traders who have long suffered under exploitative practices by freight intermediaries, with URA positioning itself as the corrective force restoring order in the sector.
