URA Meets rice traders over rebagging issues

 

Abel Kagumire- commissioner customs URA

The Uganda revenue authority has warned all traders to desist from the act of smuggling in goods especially in buses including at all border points across the country, inorder to ease the work of their clearing agents.

The warning comes after the revenue authority met with the traders especially those dealing in rice, a meeting that was organised by the authority to clarify on some of the misunderstandings between the traders and the officials responsible for compliance and enforcement.

Speaking at the meeting, the commissioner for customs at Uganda revenue authority Mr. Abel Kagumire noted how their intelligence led operations managed to find out that most of the rice that was being imported into the country was being rebagged something he said violates the trade laws between the East African countries, hence calling for a scientific test on all the rice before it's allowed into the country.

“we had about it before using our intelligence that some rice imported is being rebagged but we had no evidenced report, so as you all know very well our commissioner general likes engagements, but once I got the report I said that lets start right away and he said Abel go slowly slowly you will cause havoc, first confirm that the rice coming from Tanzania is rebagged and then go ahead to show that it's coming from Tanzania. I engaged some people who understand rice very well but they used hand method which I said no it won't explain well to our traders, which prompted me to suggest a laboratory test for this rice which would provide accurate results.” He said

Kagumire also trashed claims by the rice traders' leaders indicating that it's the prominent people within the government trying to fight them out of their business so that they take over. 

“All traders must fulfill their obligation of following the set rules and regulations that include paying their taxes, even as we talk now there are trucks that have been halted by our officials with an aim of finding out whether the rice bags on them are coming from Tanzania rather than Kenya.” Kagumire said

Rice traders raised concerns over the speed at which the scientific machines are taking to produce the accurate results of their rice, hence the commissioner general urging them to wait a little bit since it’s just the first time it’s tested and asked them to meet again where they will find more solutions.

Rice traders also urged the leadership of Uganda revenue authority to help and reduce the high taxes imposed on them, adding that this would help reduce on its escalation in the future.

Meanwhile, John Kabanda who is the chairperson for New generation traders Association pleaded to the Authority to first allow the tracks into the country as the scientific tests are underway, stressing that their rice is not safe and could be destroyed by the harsh weather conditions.

Katongole Godfrey, the chairperson of Kampala traders association urged the Revenue authority to work in conjunction with the traders while making laws that govern their businesses, adding that they know very well the conditions under which the traders go through.

Kagumire also expressed his concerns over some of the traders who are failing to declare their goods to the clearing agents especially those transporting by buses, something he said is making their work very difficult even upon the introduction of the new system which simplifies their work.

“when it reached Monday we instructed our clearing agents to start their work where we introduced our new clearing system to collect taxes from goods on buses, but didn’t realise that there has been any challenge because the first challenge was that our officers didn’t have any rights and we proceeded to give them the rights by 10am on Monday, where they begun working but I asked myself why are there still more challenges regarding clearance at the bus, because our process is that it’s you the traders that have to declare to us but now if some of you have failed to declare whom do you blame.” He said

However, the clearing officers later notified the commissioner some difficulties that have to be worked upon especially in I.T to allow configuration of the results that had failed to match with the general system, which prompted the commissioner for customs to listen to the issues surrounding queing up at the buses hence making adjustments in the new process.