John Musinguzi, the Commissioner General of the URA Authority, has urged clearing and forwarding agents to adhere to the set guidelines to ensure a smooth flow of trade.

Musinguzi’s call follows concerns from clearing and forwarding agents about the restrictions on the warehousing of goods imported for re-export.

Early this year, URA issued guidelines restricting the warehousing of goods imported for re-export, including cooking oil, biscuits, canned beer, tomato paste, sugar, and dry cell batteries, among others.

This move, according to Musinguzi is aimed at protecting the market for local manufacturers as similar goods are manufactured in the country. It also follows instances of some traders taking goods imported for re-export out of warehouses.

The development has, however, not been welcomed by clearing agents, who have asked the authority to revise the guidelines.

Speaking to the agents at the URA headquarters in Nakawa yesterday, Musinguzi urged them to adhere to new guidelines and support the plan to have a central container depot.

“Can we together support a plan to have a central container depot where all goods that come in are captured by description, weights, and value into the government database so that if they are proceeding to a bond for warehousing for six months, there is a clear record of what came in?” he said.

The URA boss explained that if government is assured that all goods coming into the country for re-export can first be measured and recorded so that when they disappear, someone is culpable, it can look at reversing the decision.

In his remarks, Abel Kagumire, the Commissioner of Customs applauded the clearing agents for their support in revenue mobilization and said the authority would provide more training to build their capacity in the field.

By Kamugisha Kabahweza Allan