Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has issued a firm directive requiring all goods imported under the container leader system to be cleared by June 1 or face penalties.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting held at URA headquarters in Nakawa between URA senior management and leaders of the Kampala Capital City Traders Association (KACITA), convened to address growing concerns over cargo delays and irregularities under the groupage system.
During the meeting, URA Commissioner General John Rujoki Musinguzi said traders whose goods are already in the country or in transit must ensure that all necessary declarations are made through their designated container leaders.
This includes providing accurate documentation and proof that the container leaders are authorized to act on behalf of the individual importers.
He said declarations must be updated to correct any under-reporting, and where the declarations are verified to be accurate, no penalties will be applied.
However, deliberate non-compliance will not be tolerated.
This development follows URA’s recent decision to suspend the unauthorized clearance of consolidated cargo by container leaders.
The suspension triggered anxiety among traders, especially those whose goods were already on the way or at ports.
KACITA formally requested that URA make special considerations for such cargo, and in response, URA agreed to a short grace period to allow the goods to be properly declared without immediate sanctions.
Amid reports circulating on social media that URA had seized traders’ goods, Musinguzi clarified that no containers had been confiscated.
He explained that any delays being experienced were due to the failure of some container leaders to submit proper declarations, and urged traders to actively follow up with their agents and transporters.
He further noted that any costs or damages incurred as a result of these delays would be the responsibility of the traders, not URA.
KACITA Chairperson Thaddeus Musoke welcomed the decision, saying it demonstrated URA’s willingness to listen to the concerns of the business community and find solutions through dialogue.
He called on traders not to panic or resort to business closures, but instead to comply with lawful processes.
Musoke also acknowledged the need for tighter regulation of container leaders, some of whom, he said, have taken advantage of the system to exploit traders.
Starting June 1, URA will require all undeclared goods under the groupage system to be supported by individual house bills—documents that prove the specific ownership of goods within a shared container.
This requirement is expected to improve traceability and minimize fraudulent declarations.
Furthermore, from July 1, all new imports under the container leader arrangement will be subject to updated valuation standards to ensure fair and accurate taxation.
To help traders adapt to the new measures, URA and KACITA will roll out a nationwide sensitization campaign aimed at creating awareness about cargo clearance procedures, clarifying the responsibilities of both traders and container leaders, and explaining the consequences of non-compliance.
Musinguzi concluded by urging traders to embrace the reforms as a necessary step toward building a more transparent and efficient trading environment.
URA’s new approach marks a critical turning point in the management of groupage cargo in Uganda, sending a clear message to all stakeholders: clean up the system or face the consequences.
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