Transforming Customs Services (Does Mombasa have Adequate Capacity?)

As URA’s motto (Developing Uganda Together) proclaims, the "Executive Forum for the Transformation of Customs Services" was a participatory arrangement for distinguished corporate establishments and other government bodies hosted at Hotel Africana’s Zambezi Hall on 22nd March 2007. Although scheduled for 9 AM, the seminar started only 28 minutes late. Sheena, the moderator, called it “…sensitization about what the customs modernization drive is about.”

URA Commissioner Mr. Peter Malinga, (invited to inaugurate the seminar by Phoebe Lutaaya) was the Commissioner-General for the Day in place of Kagina who had not yet arrived, and he called it “…a winning program.”

The first presentation, made by Mr. Dan Arora, was on Customs Transformation Initiatives and URA’s Road Map for 2007. He gave highlights of the initiatives undertaken by customs and where they wish to go in the next financial year.
“It’s a journey that begins with a few steps, but we need the momentum. That’s why you guests are here…How best can our clients get served by our departments?” Arora asked. “CMP (Customs Modernisation Project) aims at achieving a business environment that enables excellent services. Our areas of focus are people, processes and systems.” The Program was launched in 2004 to transform itself into an efficient, effective client-focused tax administration.

Some of the Reactions from Participants:
James Kalibbala , Chairman UMA was worried about the cost of doing business; “…The presenter did not say anything about what’s likely to happen. How’s all this going to impact us?”

URA Commissioner-General Allen Kagina walked in late and reactions were interrupted: She spoke 20 minutes before 11 AM, “URA wants to increase voluntary compliance. We are selling a product at URA that’s not easy to sell…We will look for funds, automate, and document on paper. We are trying to run URA as a corporate and not a government organisation. The demand of the fast growing business environment needs to be met… We want to run our business as a winner. URA has strategies in its corporate and business plans…it should be easier for you to pay taxes. So what are these things coming in URA? You can pick what is important from this seminar.”

Issa Ssekitto, KACITA Public Relations Officer (0772523129) continued with the reactions and spoke candidly as always: “The more you sharpen the clearing agents to use the ASYCUDA + +, the more you widen the gap between the importer and the agent. Some of them are unscrupulous. We should have a taxpayer’s day…Don’t leave us behind. Arrange for sectoral tax clinics. This is why I first asked where the Commissioner’s facilitation was...Questions will be relevant as to those people at the clinic…At least we are more interactive with URA today than when we started five years ago.” He concluded amid amused applauds from the URA contingent.

Hajji Lukenge Ishak, Board Member of Uganda Coffee Trade Federation (UCDA Secretariat, 2nd Floor Coffee House, Jinja Road) [0752777755] said, “VAT and DDP applications can be done at the same time. Automate the process. Propose an internal capture of entry returns. During modernisation, is the issue of counterfeit and dumping captured? This is something which will kill our manufacturers. Have an entry point at all the business points. Allow your officer to come to my station and know the process at my workplace, a hands-on approach of sensitizing the URA staff.”

Mwesigwa Denis, from National Drug Authority was concerned about quality maintenance. “Some ICDs are substandard. People start complaining about expired drugs. Some of our colleagues (in other countries) have a one-stop centre, a warehousing system where all drugs are brought to that bonded warehouse and cleared from there. Improve technology other than distributing it. When you improve the bonded warehouse, we will be ready to work with you.”

Some of URA’s Assistant Commissioners who answered the questions

Assistant Commissioner, Project Manager, Field Delivery Charles Nuwagaba responded to the reactions by saying, “What do you say, you who use our processes? What you have on your desks are our records (in the red books). We will move to the next step of reengineering. If a consignment is going to be handled, we invite all stakeholders to deliberate on that. We have a risk targeting procedure. We target goods like drugs after informing counterparts to come along. We may select special bonded warehouses to deal with the sensitivity, quality and special handling that drugs need.”
Charles handed the microphone over to another commissioner (Extreme left with red tie in the photo above), “…How do we fit into the regional programs? All the reforms reduce challenges of business in Uganda making us even more competitive against our partners. We have obtained funding, covering the four East African countries and a one-stop border upgrade for Katuna, Malaba and others. Ministry of Agriculture, Police, UNBS will be housed under one roof. They will be able to finish at a one-stop point. Cargo tracking: We have agreed with Mombasa to track goods till their destination. The convoy system will cease. Costs and time for trucks to move to Uganda will be reduced considerably. Our agents should be able to operate in Kenya, and do business in Mombasa.
“There is no standard finished product or raw material. Salt might be a finished product when you put it in sauce while a leather tanning industry might use it for changing their leather (hides and skins). Tax clinics were a concoction because tax payer days were enormous and some people never attended…Because of feedback, we have come to realize that people don’t step at tax clinics. So now we are targeting interest groups, so that they can be handled after internalisation’ said URA’s Patrick

“URA should be a model for the region.” Jennifer, a member of a task force, spoke about the challenges, “Automation System Act Section 36 provides for perishable removal of …” but left the quotation hanging and continued, “Release cannot be allowed. In automation, there is the ignorance and measures taken, plus attitudes of URA staff. Third party is ignorant about what goes on in customs. Customs procedures are not known. We need to understand international trade, examples of intercoms and information you should know. Trade experts should have regular consultations and advise one another, tax clinics should continue. We do not concentrate on exports but governments focusing on export promotion. We need to focus on the procedures.”

Marianne Ssebunya, General Secretary, Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (0712 754191),sounded interesting in her reaction, “This looks like a dream but you are far ahead in implementing it; you are committed. But some cadres do not know about this modernisation. We request that it trickles down to the lower ranks. It’s like agents are not allowed to think but follow what they are told. They need to release their minds. Facilitate them for telephone calls at least.”


A Uganda Transport Agencies representative started by praising the ‘Pearl of Africa’ as a comfortable and peaceful country. He’d had 21 years of experience in Operations and Finance Management for his company which transports in bulk for companies like Shell, Chevron. He had worked in Asia as well as African countries and commented that, “Most bulk comes from Busia (Nairobi, and Kisumu cross from there). Busia houses a lot of cargo and bulk…Lack of communication (is the problem), there is a 3km view of the distant Kenya side. Pipelines are down at the Kenyan side. Joint verification has to be enforced to clear the consignments fast. Rotational stamping: There are 2 gates. Once the trucks cross, they go into the long route, get a stamp on the other gate, minimum 8 hours yet we are talking of 20 minutes here…make processes faster. Re-registration of TIN numbers is very important for tax payers. Without paying taxes, some goods are dumped.”

The second presentation focusing on the long term strategy was presented by Rachael (0772 505641). “We want satisfaction guarantee for our clients…Global trade is changing and we need to change to facilitate trade. It is posing new challenges to all involved parties of the supply chain. Our main focus is on facilitation.” Rachael started. She explained the strategy of accreditation which involves recognizing a person, organisation, company as having met set standards, plus a Certification System for importers, brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, terminals, warehouses and ports.

Accreditation can be implemented through the following 5 levels (i) Normal Import, Export and Transit, (ii) Use of Procedures linked to permissions and deferred payment, (iii) Stairway SME facilitation-One routine/procedure. Stairsec Accreditation, a One-stop shop, Single Window to government, (iv) Optimised Processes, Non-stop shop-Minimal Checks, Stair security accreditation.
“The fifth level, International Recognition, is a long term dream or strategy, but achievable.”

Ben Manyindo, from Uganda National Bureau of Standards, also spoke, “It should be called facilitation of fair trade, and not just facilitation of trade. Fairness requires that you are compliant to the systems. High compliance levels are required for accreditation yet we have small players like traders…We need to look at how best to treat these imports. Our challenge at UBOS and URA is management of non compliant goods; at times they are refused entry. How do we manage them out of this country?”

Irene, UBOS (Uganda Bureau of Statistics) paradoxically advised, “Learn from the challenges we are getting from the green channel…”

EDITOR-What challenges does the green channel face yet earlier someone mentioned that it’s meant for clients who do not need help? [“Green channel” means the part of the exit from any customs area designated as such... S.11 F.A.7 of 1999, Act 4 of 1984 (The East African Customs Management Act)]

Abdallah N. Balere, Uganda Motor Importers Association (Used Motor Vehicle Importers) reacted, “There is a tendency of shifting goal posts by evaluation (department) but URA’s approach of working as a family will help us…Every company pays VAT and at the end of the year, corporate tax is paid. However, a new Value Book is always introduced when a certain vehicle is imported frequently… (8.9 Million is paid for a Mitsubishi Fuso nowadays unlike in the past). We also want to be on the band wagon. There is also a big problem of robbery in Kenya, 10 vehicles are lost per month and 6 people killed per year.”

Carol, from Private Sector Foundation of Uganda, said “Many times systems are put in place but not assessed. If the Private Sector Foundation had traveled with URA to assess the Eastern Route, the public would not complain. We also found out that private sector members take time at the scanner in Mombasa.”

One of the founder members of the original URA was one of the last contributors, and his opinion was that, “Blames are usually put on URA. Unless working under one route is quickly attended to, delays may be experienced. I have an office at Malaba, Mutukula and Katuna. Why arrest a man who has parked 8 cars and let him stay in prison for one week? He sends his drivers, some of whom are not qualified or knowledgeable. Some have forged passports and documents. URA should help sensitize the security personnel so that once arrests are made, these areas should be focused on. Manufacturers are the most ignorant about customs procedures. Let these people be directed to UCIFA.”

“I would like to take note of the fears. Instead of looking at them, why not look at their risks in the area of provision? We need to see trade facilitation and how it can improve for all of us here…UCIFA should let bulk cargo be cleared inland,” a representative from UFFA (Uganda Freight Forwarders Association) reacted last among the participants.


“Post any idea or suggestions to add value to the modernisation effort on our website. We are going to introduce a modernisation test for our 1,000 plus staff,” mentioned URA’s Patrick.

“Your contribution is important to URA,
So send your feedback on the processes to the address: cmpt-gp@ura.go.ug”

The organizer of the seminar recorded a fairly full house…Notable absentees though were the Inspector General of Police, Kale Kaihura 0772 307034, and the Executive Director of Uganda Investment Authority, Dr. Maggie Kigozi



Does Port MOMBASA have adequate Capacity?
DESPITE being the largest gateway to East and Central Africa, Kenya’s coastal port of Mombasa is in danger of losing its historical dominance in the region. The price is being paid for years of neglect to this port and road infrastructure. Low capacity use of the port is also attributed to civil strife in the Great Lakes Region states of Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, and Sudan, all served by the harbour. However, more significantly, the drop in volume of cargo landed and uploaded has been associated with poor port management by the Kenya Ports Authority. KPA was established by an Act of parliament on 20 January 1978 as a successor to the East African Harbours Corporation. Apart from Mombasa, KPA also has under its jurisdiction the small ports of Lamu, Kiunga, Kilifi, Malindi, Funzi, Mtwapa, Shimoni and Vanga.
‘Highly politicized selection of managers, corruption, and disregard of professional standards plus frequent changes of management has created weaknesses in KPA’s performance,’ said Otieno Kajwang, Kenyan opposition Member of Parliament (as reported on www.businessinafrica.net).
During a KPA Stakeholders’ Forum on Tuesday 23 May 2006 at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Mr. Issa Sekitto, Spokesperson of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) whose members visited the port at the end of April 2006 gave two reasons for the negative trends: First, repressing of the East African Union increased the tariffs and import duties.
‘KPA should advise the Kenyan Government to give an amnesty that will let us know that we are real East Africans.’ Mr. Sekitto said.
Nevertheless, progress is being made to review tariffs which have been intact since 1985. Secondly, barring of loose (conventional) cargo; this way people are forced to become importers of containers and soon go out of business.
The full house forum had been organized to present to stakeholders the latest developments at the port and invite their views to its improvement. ‘Views have contributed significantly in improving efficiency. KPA has improved through focused investment and building customer relations,’ remarked Mr. Abdallah H. Mwaruwa, MD-KPA.
Some traders present complained about their lost cargo but KPA affirmed that since January 2006, no container was lost. In fact, a port facility assessment was carried out in 2005 ending in continued focus on security improvement. A gate pass module will streamline security.
The design capacity of the container terminal is congested but new cargo holding equipment is in plan. Strides are being made to computerize key port services, implement electronic data interchange from shipping lines and reduce human interaction which causes port problems. Mr. Mwaruwa was optimistic that by 2007, Mombasa will become an E-Port.
‘76 percent of the transit cargo that goes through the Port of Mombasa ends in Uganda,’ spoke Gen. (Rtd) J.R.E. Kibwana EGH, CBS, and Chairman-KPA. That shows just how much Ugandans should be concerned about this seaport. ‘We believe the Port of Mombasa is your port. KPA is interacting with other ministries to ensure movement of cargo in the Northern Corridor( Roads Network), speedy processing of documents and expansion of the container ward. Doing business is expensive but we are trying to reduce this cost so that savings can be transferred to our customers.’
‘If you are serious about competition, you must keep your cost down. That is the edge. Tanzania’s cost effective route is Mombasa,’ said Mr. Gichiri Ndua, the Corporate Services Manager-KPA. His view was supported by the transit traffic report for 2004 and 2005 in which Tanzania, a coastal nation had the second highest volume going through the port and its annual change in volume was a 22.4 percent rise compared to 21.3 percent for Uganda in first place. Mombasa also serves Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern DRC and Southern Sudan.
But does the port have adequate capacity? ‘It is very important not to lose focus. Interest has been evaluated for a second commercial port but the privatization bill ties our hands,’ said Mr. Ndua during his graphic presentation. ‘We must be aware of using the available capacity in the existing port. The Port of Mombasa might be constrained.’
Mr. Ndua added that during the traffic projections until 2027, Sudan had been left out. Today DRC is awakening and Burundi is coming up. ‘We need to focus.’
Prompted by the performance of China and India, the KPA management in 2000 introduced planned maintenance, condition monitoring on some of their equipment, and predictive maintenance where infrared systems can detect when distribution is likely to suffer.
Between 2004 and 2005, the authority received 7 new top loaders, 3 Sixteen Ton Forklifts and 1 mobile crane. From M/S Damen shipyards of Holland came 3 tugboats, 2 pilot boats and 2 patrol boats. M/S ZPMC China delivered 20 terminal tractors (tug masters), 4 Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, 12 Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes, and 2 Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes. They pick containers from the back of rails, measure their weight and save time. Overweight containers are not loaded.
Concerning the Port Master Plan, Mr. Ndua said that KPA shall review and find out the best location for a container terminal. Updating the stakeholders, he revealed that most railway lines had been uprooted and more shades destroyed making the container station a proper stacking area though capacity has not been addressed.
‘People had different interests in the Free Trade Zone but we do not facilitate trade for one person. We will soon be going to press to tell them: this is how we want it.’
In implementing Information Technology (IT), KPA introduced SAP (automating office business processes), EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), CBS ( a Community Based System which links port users electronically to allow secure exchange of authorized data between partners) and the Kilindini waterfront Project. By 2007, this project may be thrown out though it automates the core port operations of the authority including terminal, shipping and distribution operations in line with KPA’s strategic objective.
Close to the end of the forum, Mr. Omar Kassim, the National Chairman Uganda Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association said, ‘This forum is more of a unilateral than multilateral approach. Broader regional frameworks forge stronger ties, trading blocks emerge for the benefit of regional governments. The majority of your customers come from the private business sector. My concern is for you to forge a consultative partnership through which benefits can be channeled to the people at the grassroots level. One dogma I learnt at another workshop is that if you do not embrace change, you will be left out. I cannot speak big words to someone who has not been educated. Please, appraise your business partners constantly if working harmony is to be achieved.’

UCIFA Day 2007 Enhances Professionalism

Unveiling the new UCIFA Slogan : "Bridging the Gap of Tax Collection"

Although delayed for 2 hours, the highly anticipated UCIFA Day at Entebbe’s Golf View Inn was a major success. With the theme “Enhancing Professionalism in the Clearing and Forwarding Industry”, the participants shared very valuable ideas that can transform the association greatly in the next few years when followed as advised by the main speaker.

The first speaker was the UCIFA Entebbe Chairman who said, “At Entebbe International Airport, we are faced with the problem of high evaluation…The perception of URA to the agents has improved but there is the issue of junior officers. If you are an agent of MTN for example, you are branded and respected as a member of MTN. But when it comes to URA, in most cases we are not recognized as so. There is a big hang up when it comes to manifestation for the 283 clearing companies…The major problem I would highlight is professionalising our institution. If we come together, we would be able to resolve conflicts and give ourselves a good image…We found it good to hold this seminar to find solutions to the problems I’ve tried to highlight. We are all in business to keep ahead of failure and make money…”



(UCIFA Kampala Logo by Aiko)


After the first speech, an unprecedented skit was dramatized in Luganda in front of the gathering (a bit of what agents go through daily) whereby two men pretending to connect by phone acted like they were doing business. The actor playing the role of a stubborn businessman held a mobile near his ear, and told an agent named Siraj what he wanted. In order to import goods, Siraj informed him of the procedure required; he had to declare his TIN number. Instead, the businessman mentioned his Box Number like an ignorant importer amusing the audience. The agent next asked for the Invoice, Shipping Bill and Money. The importer told him to ‘yiya’ (Luganda for ‘be subtle’). He wanted Siraj to go to the customs agents and see what he could do even if illegally…The agent proceeded to Customs but he could not be allowed to go ahead with clearing the goods without proper documentation. This clearly highlighted how agents are faced with ethical issues provoked by their clients. After telling him about the impossibility of his sinister plan, the displeased businessman complained that the agent had earlier asked for damages and was now asking for handling and other costs.

Below is a short poem recited by one of the beautiful ladies in the khaki (cream) UCIFA T-Shirts:

The Agent, the Teacher, the Farmer
Looking forward for fair treatment
The present is tough
Future is bleak
Yet services are essential
For nation betterment;

The agent, the tax collector
Not recognized as so
Blamed by customs,
Blamed by the tax payer
Rebuked for unprofessionalism
Yet can’t be done by all!

Trying so hard to beat time,
Squeezed at all ends
To satisfy the many parties involved
The journey is bumpy
Therein lies the haughty
Nagging, ungrateful individual in society

Oh Agent! If the situation were different
Treatment fairer
Services more appreciated
More taxes you would collect
For national development

Fellow nationals!
Join hands we should
To nurture the service industry,
The goose that lays the golden eggs

Lecturing on the topic “Leveraging Partnership: Keeping Ahead of Failure”, the main speaker Mr. Peter Kimbowa began by saying, “If you do not plan for the future, the future has a plan for you. How many clearing firms have survived 30 years, 40 years, and 80 years in Uganda? There is none; so we need to be together. Do you have a plan? Don’t assume that the bridge is there. We are faced with risks of business collapse. You could die now and live nothing for those behind. You may even get an accident and become disabled. You may live long but with nothing to feed on. Let’s not focus on our children taking care of us.

“In an association like this, you only need five committed people. Few people bring light, too many people bring emotions. Let’s build our internal team care. There is no way UCIFA will build a strong force without strengthening itself internally. Care means connecting within ourselves, we are there as a team. Next we need to assess the challenges we have as an association…Respond and take action…finally excel, do better than we were doing last year.

“What’s your relationship with financial agencies and importers? A guy had two donkeys and put two bundles of hay for them to feed. They fought until their ropes got interlocked. The donkeys killed each other. It’s very important to build a code of conduct or order. I am willing to build one for you.” Mr. Kimbowa pledged amid applause from the clearing agents gathered, “URA wants to see some blood flowing. Partnership is built on attitude. Don’t take primitive action, step forward and be recognized. Let us re-imagine the partnership; rethink!

“Create your own brand respected by banks, clearing agencies and importers…They shouldn’t see you as riff ruffs, lampoons. Focus on what you are going to do in 6 to 12 months…Each one of us knows something and when we contribute it, it will help. We are small in our own ways. Stakeholders should know that we are together. When stakeholders see us acting right, they will come with respect. What are our plans? We are going to design a code. Every one will sign…People will be punished and others rewarded.”


(Some of the URA contingent at the Golf View Inn event)

Working with others (Emotional Intelligence, E.I. model):
“For us to succeed in business, we need relationships…Relationships are based on two things: self awareness and self control. Let us look at the strong points in our association knowing very well that we have weaknesses. To build relationships, God put a brain in our heads to make decisions and cooperate with others. For example, since some of you came late, your thoughts will make you feel guilty so you won’t do anything…All this works in the head. When URA sees that you are not together, people back-biting each other, so they despise you. This is supposed to be your motivation. Importers will feel motivated to deal with you. People feel, think and get energy…Check with your friends in Nairobi and South Africa…Use that clout of coming together to build teams. Work out yourselves as a group and create a magnet. With a code, you lay a foundation or root for your growth especially when things are so tough. UCIFA Branch Entebbe is different. Is a UCIFA member the same as a fisherman or riff ruff in Kampala? What we need in our code of conduct are values, habits and practices. Let’s build on what we have done. You even started with a prayer in this age when witchcraft is merging with biblical beliefs…”

Here is one of Main Speaker Peter Kimbowa’s Anecdotes:
A professor once stood on a platform and told the audience that God does not exist. ‘If he pushes me off this platform, I will believe that he exists.”
A bouncer walked up, beat him up and pushed him away, “Why are you doing this, are you crazy?” the professor asked.
“No, God was busy, so he sent me here.” the bouncer replied.

Another Anecdote by PK:
A moneylender offered a loan to one man while eyeing the guy’s daughter. So when the man took long to pay, the money lender suggested a gentlemanly solution whereby the debtor would allow his daughter to pull out a white or black stone from a bag during a public gathering. If she picked a black stone, she would marry the moneylender, but if it was white, she would stay with her father. When people assembled, the money lender cleverly picked 2 black stones and thought nobody noticed. The man’s daughter was not only exceptionally beautiful but also very intelligent. She pretended to pick one of the stones but shivered and fell to the ground as if struck by a sudden fever. When asked which stone she had picked, she said it had fallen among the many on the ground. A wise man in the audience said that in order to determine which stone had been picked; they had to look at the one remaining in the bag, which meant she couldn’t get married.

“Disempowering beliefs will push us away: We need respect from banks, importers and URA. What is your new philosophy? What measures are you taking, what are the action lines and internal policies?”

Peter recommended roots such as trust, respect, professionalism, integrity, transparency to help UCIFA continuously renew itself.

“There are four main segments of money. Are you enjoying, earning, managing or affording your business yet you love women and alcohol a lot? Can you sacrifice for other people? How can you say you want to retire at 40 yet the richest man in the world is still working even in his middle ages? The word ‘capital’ comes from the Latin word ‘capitalis’ which means brain, so when you complain that there is no capital, you actually mean there is no brain in your head…What benefits are you getting from UCIFA? Are you being exempted from other collateral? Do you get longer payment periods and no liabilities? The oldest business in Uganda is about 40 years but in India over 100 years old. The capacity to generate income from personal initiatives is financial stability…Don’t leave this place without answering this question: What about you? Banks will be there, importers will be there after 35 years, what about you? Will your company be existent in 5 years time?”

PK concluded by saying, ‘If Jesus Christ had come to preach the Gospel of Heaven and did not leave behind disciples, there would be no religions…so tell other people about what was discussed here.”

“To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.” – Quote by BENJAMIN DISRAELI

The guest of honour, an Assistant Commissioner at URA, gave his speech before the prize giving ceremony …He expressed Patrick Malinga’s gratitude. URA desires such organised groups.
“Don’t lose hope. We are always in a growing environment, a learning environment. As we are moving into that direction which PK (Peter Kimbowa) has discussed, people are also conscious of the quality we are rendering. We don’t want to work with people who will dent our image. I want to redefine integrity by quoting experts. Doug Welsh and his wife wrote that “Integrity is just a game. If you don’t have it in your bones, you shouldn’t be allowed in the team.”
In the book ‘Leadership at Work’, integrity and honesty are virtues. “Integrity is correspondence between word and deed, Honesty is truthful and non deceitful…” The word professional does not refer to qualifications but your effectiveness. If people perceive you differently, then you lose the identity you should possess. Everything is possible, graduate yourself to the level that PK was trying to link you to, where you do not cheat importers. It is a shared and collective responsibility. The challenge is that if you can grasp what has been shared today, then we can work collectively… Partner through networks: as you concretize yourself on a national point of view, you need to extend beyond the region to the continent. Become part of a chain, get from the source, not only yourselves but think globally to sustain your businesses. ”The guest of honour alongside Omar Kassim, UCIFA’s National Chairman unveiled the new UCIFA Slogan ‘Bridging the Gap of Tax Collection’.


(Emirates Air won the 2007 Award for Best Airline)

Prizes in form of T-Shirts, trophies and packages were also awarded to the Best Driver, Best Courier Company (ENHAS), Best Clearing Agent (Popular among the audience) alongside other accolades.








[Omar Kassim, the UCIFA Chairman in a Green coat shakes hands with the URA Goalie while Lino (Extreme left), the Chief Guest (URA Official in white shirt second right) and a UCIFA Entebbe Branch member (in the fantastic khaki corporate T-Shirt showcased ceremoniously at the event) pose on the sides]

Omar Kassim, who came in close to the end of the seminar, was the last person to give a speech, “Please forgive me for I do not write down my speeches; I speak from my heart… When you have an interest in your institution, it will trickle down to your members. In Kampala, we have people who do not want to associate. Entebbe is well organised but in Kampala, it impairs the image of the association. The boda bodas have a strong association where they solicit licenses for the boda bodas. They even have IDs. This seminar is an opportunistic measure that has a workable outcome…Let’s share a common vision, and a mission to reach the same goals. Help us to root out some of those feelings we have tackled. In terms of UCIFA, Entebbe has always set the pace. (Other UCIFA branches include Kampala, Jinja and the new ones in Busia-Malaba) Give us encouragement and allow us to improve on our systems…The future of this industry is prompt…Achieving our targets is the way to the future.”
The Master of Ceremony added his voice to the proceedings by saying, “Entebbe Airport is a unique point …if you work for URA without being posted to Entebbe, your chances of promotion are minimal…We not only collect taxes but train you.”





URA vs. UCIFA
In the first half, URA’s goalkeeper (Captain), dressed in an orange shirt and yellow track suit, was very animated and efficient, actually my Man of the Half because of the entertainment he produced. He took centre stage by saving the money collectors from thorough UCIFA onslaughts in the first few minutes. It looked like one way traffic for some time but URA got revived and also launched attacks on their opponent’s goal…almost breaking the deadlock on one occasion only for the striker to thump the ball high over the UCIFA crossbar yet he had only the keeper to beat. Ball possession was relatively shared though the ball came back to URA’s half many times. All the players wore white shorts, but URA had white shirts while UCIFA had red tops with white sleeves.


After half time, URA’s goalkeeper stripped and dressed in black shorts plus a white URA shirt (Number 12) as a field player. He remained the captain though and amused the spectators with his dribbles plus committed goal attempts. Unfortunately, after a number of tactical changes, UCIFA’s unrelenting pursuit for a goal finally paid off when a long ball from the centre half found a striker who cut inside to his right past a defender and fired low to the left half of the URA goal. The money collectors tried hard to fight back but the clearing agents cleared the attempts away…and clinched the cup. Final Score: URA 0, UCIFA 1

The soccer and netball games ended around 5pm and the gathering dispersed, some returning to Kampala by taxi, personal vehicles or company vans. UCIFA had its evening dance at Club Knight Rider on Movement Road.

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Senior Personnel of Freight Kargo Masters

1. MR. JAD JOHNSONS TABULE 075-2696762 PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE, Over 10 years experience
in the industry General Secretary-Uganda Clearing Industry and Forwarding Agents
Association (UCIFA) Member of Enterprise Uganda

2. Adikini Morine 0772 2437726, Branch Manager Malaba (Uganda)

3. Mwesigye Justine 0772-699894 Branch Manager Busia (Uganda)

4. Willy Kitara 0772-457935 Assistant Airfreight Manager

Meet the Agent …Jad Johnsons Tabule

Name: Jad Johnsons Tabule

Company: Freight Kargo Masters

Position: Principal Executive / Secretary General UCIFA (Uganda Clearing Industry
and Forwarding Agents) Association

Born: January 5th

Tribe: Lugbara

Star Sign: Capricorn

Educated: Nkumba University

Drives: Toyota Exiv

What do you like most about the industry? The Connections and Money

What would you like for your next birthday? A Land Cruiser

I love:, Roasted Chicken and Transport magazines

Superstitions: Jump on a train to watch a game in Namboole

Favourite African Singer: Try hard and Guess

Favourite African Personality: Muammar Gaddafi

Favourite Sport: Angling (Fishing)

Advice: First take measurements, and then take measures (The Jad Principle)

Favourite Drink: Bongo

Leisure and Relaxation: The Beach and Hideouts

Where would you like to go for holiday? Dubai

What irritates you most? Delays, fools and thugs

What job would you be doing if not in the clearing and forwarding industry? Manager

FKM International Network

1. TPL GROUP Logistics CHINA- Network in all cities in China
2. AVIAN Logistics Management and Distribution Group – Network in all Indian Sites, INDIA
3. Greenland Sea Shipping (I) Ltd NAVI-MUMBAI-INDIA
4. MY CARGO (International Freight Forwarder) Sialkot, Pakistan
5. ASSOCIATED LINES LTD, KAMPUS TOWERS, UNIVERSITY WAY, NAIROBI, KENYA
6. FLAG BEARERS OF M&S SHIPPING WORLD WIDE NETWORK in Uganda
7. FREIGHT KARGO MASTERS (U) LTD is associated to Ocean World Lines, another network world over.

FKM Company Profile

You can find Freight Kargo Masters at the MTAC Building, Top Floor Room B4, in the Nakawa Industrial Area, north west of URA's Customs Business Centre. Mobile: +256(392)949482, +256(752)696762 or Fixed Line: +256(751)051174 and Email: [fkmu2001@yahoo.com]

Freight Kargo Masters (U) Ltd established in Uganda in 1998 (Licensed 1999) as an international freight forwarding and customs clearing agency with branches, agents and associates in major customs operational areas in Uganda and major sea ports and the region. Freight Kargo Masters (U) Ltd is fully competent in handling the freight/cargoes of all types/categories i.e. land, sea and air using its mechanized professional resource. Our skilled and professional manpower applies the expertise to meet the highly sophisticated and even adverse situation to the client and other parties in the freight forwarding environment. Our relations with major stakeholders e.g. shipping lines/agents, airlines, transporters and customs authorities is an asset we fully cherish and reckon with, making us deliver on time to meet our client ’ s satisfaction. We are global in every manner in the freight forwarding, logistics information and communication, to international rules and regulations regarding the supply chain management. We achieve this by using the latest means of communication and provision of personalised customer care service and of course going an extra mile. We therefore firmly believe that customer care friendly service and prompt delivery is our core valued asset and with that at the back of the minds of every personnel, we operate 24/7. This helps our overseas clients and agents/associates no matter when or where problems arise or any assistance is required.