FINAL WARNING! URA Gives Importers 30 Days to Save Mombasa, Naivasha Cargo
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has issued a public notice giving importers and owners of goods stored at the Customs Warehouse, Naivasha and the Mombasa Port a final opportunity to clear their goods before they are sold through a public auction. The notice targets goods that have exceeded the statutory customs clearance and warehousing period, commonly referred to as un-customed goods.
According to URA, owners of the affected goods have 30 days from the date of the first publication of the notice to clear their cargo by paying all the required taxes, customs duties, storage fees, penalties, fines and any other charges that have accumulated. Failure to do so within the given period will result in the goods being disposed of through a public auction in accordance with the law.
The authority explained that the directive is issued under Section 42(1) of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004, which empowers the Commissioner of Customs to auction goods that remain in customs warehouses beyond the legally allowed period after giving owners adequate notice.
URA Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi urged all affected importers to use the 30-day grace period to clear their goods, saying the authority is committed to ensuring efficient customs operations while giving owners sufficient opportunity to reclaim their cargo before it is auctioned. He emphasized that importers who fail to act within the stipulated timeframe risk losing their goods through the automated public auction process as provided for by law.
URA said the auction process will be conducted electronically to ensure transparency and efficiency. Interested buyers will be able to access the terms and conditions of sale, the user guide and the list of auction items through the URA online auction platform. The authority also reminded bidders that all goods will be sold on an “as is” basis, meaning buyers will purchase them in their current condition without any guarantees.
The notice also outlines the applicable one-off storage and Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) charges for motor vehicles being cleared from Mombasa and Naivasha. Charges vary depending on the type of vehicle, while additional costs for railway transport, port handling and UNBS inspections will apply to cargo stored in Naivasha.URA further announced that members of the public will be able to view the auction items online from August 31 to September 5, 2026, while bidding will take place from September 7 to September 12, 2026. Successful bidders will also be required to pay the applicable motor vehicle registration fees in line with the prevailing rates.
The tax authority also informed importers whose goods are eventually auctioned that they may apply for reimbursement of any remaining proceeds after taxes, charges and auction expenses have been deducted. Such applications must be submitted to the Commissioner of Customs within one year from the date of the auction as provided for under Section 42(5) of the EACCMA, 2004.URA has therefore encouraged all affected importers to act without delay and clear their goods within the stipulated period to avoid losing them through the planned public auction. The authority says timely clearance not only helps importers avoid additional costs but also promotes the smooth flow of trade and improves the efficiency of customs operations across the region.
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