The Ag. Commissioner of Customs at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Hajji Asadu Kigozi Kisitu, has vowed to take strong action against fraudsters within the freight forwarding community.
who connive to deceive both traders and the government, saying that these individuals undermine trust in the country's customs processes.
Kisitu made these comments during a meeting with over 100 freight forwarding officials at the Document Processing Centre (DPC) last Thursday. The meeting aimed to address key issues affecting the industry and setting a clear path forward for improving operations between the two parties.
Kisitu revealed that some freight forwarders have been involved in practices like failing to pay the proper assessment fees for goods and deliberately declaring lower values to reduce customs duties. He stressed that such actions are criminal and cheat the government of crucial revenue needed for national development.
His warning comes as the tax authority is stepping up efforts to combat corruption, not just among its staff but also within its business partnerships.
Charles Mwebembezi, the Chairperson of the Uganda Freight Forwarders Association, which represents over 231 transport and logistics companies handling around 90% of Uganda’s import and export cargo, called for ongoing collaboration with the tax authorities to fight fraudsters.
He emphasized that these dishonest actors are tarnishing the reputation of the many freight forwarders who are conducting their business honestly and ethically. He also called upon his members to report, with immediacy, suspicious activity.
To strengthen the industry, Kisitu announced plans to overhaul the licensing process for freight forwarders. He said that new, stricter guidelines will be introduced, and only those who meet the necessary standards will be allowed to operate.
"We will conduct thorough background checks to ensure that individuals have a clean record," he said. "Once the requirements are met, we will issue licenses quickly and efficiently."
The Commissioner also promised to empower officials stationed at critical trade routes to make timely and swift decisions that will do away with biting bureaucracy and delays. He also acknowledged that he was short of staff but promised to deploy more resources once the ongoing URA recruitment process is done.
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