Recently, Members of Parliament from the Finance and Budget committees visited URA’s customs external operations office in Mombasa to appreciate the Single Customs Territory (SCT) processes, developments and note any feedback on areas where the Committee’s support was required.
In the wake of the Petroleum Supply (Amendment) Bill 2023 that was recently passed regarding fuel importation, they also sought to reaffirm the readiness of the Customs team at the port to facilitate the same.
Julius Rubagumya, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs External Operations, exhilarated the guests with the SCT exodus and future prospects. Key to note was the possibility of expanding external operations to other key trading partners, starting with the DRC and South Sudan, which are the main export destinations (natural markets) for Uganda.
This was in the spirit of export promotion and securing the supply chain for Uganda’s exports to enhance domestic revenue mobilization en route to economic independence.
The MPs, under the leadership of Hon. Opolot Patrick Isiagi, commended the team for playing a noble role in serving the country by securing Uganda’s economic interests from a foreign land, and they pledged unwavering support for the operations.
They were particularly impressed by the strides made in reducing the cost of trade by decreasing the number of documents required to move cargo from the port to Uganda. The reduction in clearance time, as well as improved security and visibility along the supply chain, were also appreciated.
They pledged to support URA in its efforts to enhance process efficiencies not only at the SCT level but all the way to the destination of goods in Uganda so that efforts at one point are not watered down by inefficiencies at another. They went on to appreciate KPA for the cordial relationship and unfailing support for URA.
Additionally, the team also visited Captain William K. Ruto, the Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director in appreciation of the partnership in facilitating the clearance of Ugandan cargo through the port of Mombasa and the Northern Corridor route.
Ruto gave a cut into their future plans of expanding the port by adding onto the 24 berths and opening a dry port in Uganda, which accounts for about 75% of the cargo at the port. The MPs were then taken on a guided tour of the port.
