Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has cleared the way for more than 400 traders whose goods had been unlawfully held by container leaders for over three months, ending a period of financial and logistical distress.
The 11 major consignments had been stuck at the Kenfreight Inland Container Depot (ICD) since September. The crisis arose after cargo consolidated by Credify Africa Limited was held under the names of “container leaders” Joshua Kisaka and Annet Namanda.
Under the “groupage” system, the duo allegedly collected millions of shillings meant for import duties, but URA investigations revealed that the funds were never remitted. Meanwhile, demurrage fees continued to pile up, leaving traders stranded.
In a gesture URA described as a gift to traders as Christmas Day approaches, the agency intervened to release the cargo.
The affected traders had petitioned URA CG John R. Musinguzi, who requested the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, through the Minister of Finance, to waive inspection fees and penalties—a request that was granted.
Robert Kalumba, Assistant Commissioner of Public and Corporate Affairs, explained that container leaders are only responsible for shipping logistics, while tax obligations remain the responsibility of individual traders in coordination with URA.
The traders have now been issued House Bills to bypass middlemen, and goods are being transferred to their rightful owners to begin the clearance process.
“URA has worked tirelessly to ensure that all affected traders get their goods. Together with the Customs team at Kenfreight ICD, most, if not all, the traders were able to identify their goods,” said Nicholas Muganga, Supervisor, Customs Warehousing.
For Proscovia Katushabe, a textile trader in Kikuubo, the release of the cargo ends months of distress. “We thank URA for helping us get our goods,” she said.
