Overview:
URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi announced that affected traders can now reclaim their goods—provided they submit sworn affidavits proving ownership and are willing to pay the assessed taxes.
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has extended a crucial compliance relief window for genuine importers whose goods remain locked in customs warehouses due to tax disputes tied to group container shipments.
The decision, which runs until June 30, 2025, aims to unlock capital for traders and address a long-standing bottleneck in Uganda’s import chain, where non-compliant container leaders have left innocent business owners entangled in penalties and tax arrears.
Speaking at Sendaula Hall during a high-level engagement with freight forwarders and leaders of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi announced that affected traders can now reclaim their goods—provided they submit sworn affidavits proving ownership and are willing to pay the assessed taxes.
“More than 130 containers are currently held at customs stations across the country due to group leaders failing to declare or accurately account for goods,” Musinguzi said. “This initiative is a targeted relief measure to support genuine traders who found themselves penalised for the actions of others.”
The reform is the latest in URA’s broader strategy to enhance transparency and accountability in group import transactions—often referred to as consolidated containers—where multiple small traders pool goods under a single declaration by a lead importer. While convenient, the model has frequently been abused, leading to revenue leakages and unfair penalties.
The Commissioner General pointed to earlier reforms requiring individual declarations under each trader’s Tax Identification Number (TIN) as a game-changer, revealing that over 3,400 group shipments have since been successfully cleared under the new system.
Hajji Kisitu Asadu, Acting Commissioner for Customs, said the relief arrangement not only helps clear the backlog but also supports URA’s wider efforts in domestic revenue mobilisation.
“This is not an amnesty—it’s a structured solution to address legitimate cases while encouraging formalisation and compliance. It’s also a way to keep business moving,” he said.
KACITA spokesperson Issa Sekitto welcomed the relief but warned that mismanagement by a few container leaders continues to undermine small businesses.
“Unscrupulous group leaders have held traders hostage. Stock is stuck, shelves are empty, and businesses are bleeding. We urge traders to verify who they entrust with their shipments,” he said, adding that URA’s intervention has come at a critical time for the business community.
The move comes as URA intensifies its tax administration reforms to bridge revenue gaps without stifling legitimate enterprise. With less than a week left before the window closes, traders are being urged to act swiftly, provide valid documentation, and resolve their tax dues to avoid further penalties or auction of goods.
For a country dependent on imports for retail trade and manufacturing inputs, unlocking impounded shipments could provide much-needed liquidity and restore trust between customs and the trading community.