BY IMMACULATE WANYENZE
In a bid to professionalise the Clearing and Forwarding industry on the latest trends and practices, more than 2,000 clearing agents have benefited from the East African Customs Freight Forwarding Certificate(EACFFC) across the East African region.
Last week, URA passed out another cohort of 194 graduates at Mestil hotel in Kampala. These where equipped with customs laws &procedures, customs valuation, freight forwarding procedures, tariff classification, port clearance skills and Ethics & Integrity.
The 8 months programme is offered to all individuals in partner states that are already practicing or intending to join the clearing and forwarding industry.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Abel Kagumire the Commissioner Customs encouraged the graduates to advance beyond their certificates in order to effectively support taxpayers in the revenue mobilisation journey.
He also explained that the programme is intended for the agents to harmonize the standardization of customs practices and procedures on handling goods for international trade.
“We need to partner with you[agents] on how to handle clearance of goods at the different ports to ensure seamless flow of goods in the supply chain,” Kagumire added of the role agents in the region.
He emphasized the need for improved quality services and integrity among agents whose attitude among the different publics is still negative.
It should be noted that some sections of clearing agents have thrived on the ignorance of clients to defraud them of colossal amounts of money through delays and under declarations. Even information that is freely offered by URA, they exaggerate to make taxpayers pay for a purported reduction of taxes.
In January last year, Africa officially started trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area meaning that1.3 billion people across the 54 African countries have been connected- a space the agents need to strive to enter for ease of trade facilitation services.
Mr. Kagumire appreciated the agents for their support especially since the customs process stars with them.
“We want to appreciate you as partners because Customs is doing not only doing well in the region but also in Uganda. We have been able to hit our July target and with your continued support we shall surpass the UGX 10 trillion target of this financial year 22/23,” he emphasized.
On the other hand, Daphine Kamugisha of Novelty Agencies(u) limited, one of the graduates thanked URA for improving her professionalism through the course.
“My prayer is that the programme is recognized internationally as opposed to only the East African level because it is the foundation to trade facilitation in Uganda,” she said.
Meanwhile, EACFFPC is a joint training program in East Africa undertaken in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi authorities in conjunction with the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Association. The training has since inception in 2008 benefited 2354 agents.
