By Mulengera Reporters
In yet another step towards easing trade and cutting down delays at entry points, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has announced that importers of certain essential goods will no longer need to seek pre-approval from the office of the Commissioner Customs before clearing their cargo.
This new measure, which comes into effect starting Monday, June 2, 2025, is part of URA’s wider reforms aimed at improving turnaround time and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy at customs.
The development is expected to benefit importers of medical supplies, agricultural inputs, hotel equipment, and industrial spare parts, among others.
According to a public notice issued on May 27, 2025, URA says importers and their licensed clearing agents can now go ahead and make declarations directly in the ASYCUDA system as long as they attach all the required documentation to justify their imports.
The declarations will be reviewed and processed by the Document Processing Centre (DPC), removing the need to first seek permission from the Commissioner’s office.
This change means that time-sensitive goods, such as hospital equipment, diagnostic reagents, poultry parent stock and fertilized eggs, can be cleared faster without getting stuck in lengthy clearance queues. It also covers industrial spare parts and chemically defined fertilizers which are critical for the agricultural sector.
URA says the move is in line with the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), which already provides for clearance procedures under specific paragraphs and schedules.
The tax body hopes that by doing away with the pre-approval step, both government and private sector players will benefit through improved service delivery, reduced costs of doing business, and increased trust in the system.
The reform has been welcomed by customs agents and importers, especially those who handle sensitive and high-priority goods. Many say the previous requirement for pre-approval was causing delays, especially in urgent situations like hospital deliveries or agricultural emergencies.
URA has encouraged all importers to familiarize themselves with the new guidelines and ensure they keep proper documentation to support their declarations. Those who do not comply, the tax body warns, will still be subject to verification and penalties under existing laws. This change is part of its broader strategy to build a more efficient and responsive customs system that supports Uganda’s development agenda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
