Customs initiatives like the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) and the Single Customs Territory (SCT) have catapulted growth in volumes of goods cleared through Mutukula from sh384 billion in 2013 to sh617 billion in 2017.
Over the same period, exports through Mutukula have shot up from sh93 billion to sh251 billion, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs, Ian Rumanyika, has said.
Presidents Yoweri Museveni and John Pombe Magufuli launched the Shs19.1 billion facility yesterday, and Rumanyika says Tanzania collected US$12 million in revenue from August 2016 to June 2017, the time during which the Mutukula OSBP has been operational, compared to the 2014/2015 when US$8.1 million was collected.
“Customs initiatives like OSBP, SCT, Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) and the Uganda Electronic Single Window have increased revenue collection and earned Uganda international recognition,” Mr. Rumanyika says.
According to Rumanyika, OSBP is an integrated border system that leads to improved efficiencies through streamlined, coordinated and harmonised procedures under one roof/structure.
“In Mutukula, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) officials jointly serve importers, exporters and travellers. This facilitates trade and quick movement of passengers,” he says.
Already, the Mutukula OSBP has reduced transit time by more than 50%. Records show that an average of 542 vehicles (310 of those cargo trucks) pass through Mutukula border every month, showing how important the border post is in handling cargo.
And Rumanyika says as a result of the initiatives, Uganda won a bid to host the Fourth World Customs Organisation Global Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) conference scheduled for March 2018, the first to be held in Africa.
In a related development, speaking at the launch of the Mutukula facility Museveni urged East Africa Community member states to put emphasis on agriculture, industrialisation, information communication technology and public service as tools of economic growth. Trade facilitation, he said, would lead to prosperity for all by enabling border communities to do business. President Magufuli concurred.
“The centre is expected to enhance efficiency of customs service and ensure increased trade between our two countries, ultimately making our people more prosperous,” Museveni said.
Other OSBPs in Uganda are Mirama Hills connecting Uganda to Rwanda and, Busia and Malaba connecting Uganda to Kenya, with TradeMark East Africa, a not-for-profit agency injecting over $117m OSBPs in the region.
