URA Commissioner General, John R. Musinguzi (R) at Good Brothers’ bonded warehouse in the Namanve Industrial Area
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Commissioner General, John R. Musinguzi, on Wednesday paid a special visit to Good Brothers’ bonded warehouse in Namanve Industrial Area as part of efforts to streamline cargo clearance and strengthen compliance with customs procedures.
The visit, which brought together cargo importers and URA customs staff, was aimed at gaining firsthand insight into daily operations and reinforcing adherence to groupage cargo clearance guidelines.
Both parties also exchanged ideas on how to improve the management of consolidated cargo, which has become a critical lifeline for small-scale traders.
Musinguzi emphasized that the spot checks will continue across warehouses and URA offices to promote accountability, service excellence, and compliance with Standard Operating Procedures.
“The main reason for my visit was to check on our teams and improve the timelines for clearing goods. In particular, we are reviewing and supporting the new system that allows small importers to clear their goods under individual house bills. This will enable traders to access their goods quickly, especially those that have previously faced delays under container leaders,” he explained.
“I invite all Importers who have brought in goods under Groupage and have experienced delays in receiving their shipments due to ‘alleged delays’ in Customs processing to kindly come forward and present the relevant documents for their goods. Our goal is to ensure transparency and fairness, helping you avoid unnecessary delays and the risk of being overcharged in taxes by middlemen (Container Leaders).”
He also noted that the authority is aware of container leaders who have imported goods under their names and are demanding exorbitant taxes from traders whose goods are in those containers, while using false documents to clear them. This has caused delays, but our teams are working overtime to clear the backlog and ensure all imported goods reach their legitimate owners.”
The Commissioner General further reassured traders that URA is committed to addressing bottlenecks in cargo clearance, noting that efficient systems will reduce costs, save time, and support the growth of small businesses.
The engagement was welcomed by importers, many of whom said faster clearance would ease pressure on working capital and improve competitiveness in the market.
