By Guest Reporter
In order to enhance effective management of cargo at importation points, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has today engaged 127 Bonded warehouse owners to sensitize them on the newly introduced Bonded Warehouse Information Management System (BWIMS).
The new system enhancements will integrate all bonded warehouse systems with customs systems to ensure real-time information in Ware Housing, which according to URA will improve cargo accountability and serve clients better.
According to Canon R. Milton, the Manager Warehousing the new BWIMS will resolve time lag between manifest generation & capturing of declarations, facilitate a Warehousing Stock Management system that will provide full accountability of all cargo in the different Bonded Warehouses among other benefits.
He explained that the system has come at a time when URA is phasing out the old Asycuda system which is currently sorting out the old cargo stock at the ware house. He said that for good visibility of cargo, the new system will prevail over cargo effectively over a period less than 24 Hours.
“BWIMS mandates that bond keepers participate in physical verification of cargo, including opening containers alongside with the verification officer. We need to reconcile with “ghost” cargo entries which previously had no accountability,” Rahuka explained of the effectiveness of BWIMS.
Rahuka encouraged all other warehouses to enroll in the new system that has currently been piloted in 6 bonded warehouses while troubleshooting and resolving errors including; Spedag ware House, Cosmos Warehouse, and Victoria among others
URA and the Ware house’s representative agreed to extend the days and hours of working on cargo management including weekends.
Richard Ochara from Steel and Tube consented that they will incorporate stock management into the new system and that the time extension is good for boosting revenue mobilization and trade facilitation.
The new Warehouse Information Management System will be officially launched on 1st October 2022.
