The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has suggested that customs administrations should work together with e-commerce companies to help trade grow in the East African region. Abel Kagumire, who is in charge of customs at URA, made this suggestion during a meeting of the Sectoral Committee of Customs. The meeting happened recently at the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania. This meeting brings together customs leaders from different countries in the region.
Kagumire emphasized the importance of customs authorities linking up with e-commerce companies, like courier services, to adjust to new trends. He believes this collaboration is essential for boosting trade within the East African Community.
He also encouraged customs officials to keep communicating with stakeholders and to help build their capacity. Kagumire’s suggestion comes at a time when there’s a challenge in balancing the need to make trade easier with the goal of collecting more revenue.
At the meeting, Annette Ssemuwemba, the Acting Secretary General of the EAC, welcomed the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia as the newest members of the EAC. She urged customs commissioners to actively participate in regional events to strengthen the spirit of cooperation among member states.
The meeting covered various topics, including the implementation of the Single Customs Territory (SCT), trade procedures and facilitation, tariffs and valuation, ensuring compliance and enforcement, initiatives for capacity building, the impact of e-commerce on customs, and following through on previous decisions made by the EAC Council of Ministers, among others.
