Yesterday, URA launched a state of the art cargo scanners at Busia and Malaba OSBPs. This is aimed at improving international trade facilitation and managing cargo entering and transiting through Uganda.

The 15 billion shillings investment will also help Government Agencies/Authorities to speed up the cargo clearance process through enhanced automatic decision making, detect contraband and trade fraud through concealments, mis-declaration and under declaration. The scanners will also help maintain the international security chain, protect the environment from contaminated items and supervise the transit of containerized cargo.

At the launch, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija noted that traders involved in cross border trade are the biggest benefactors of the initiative.

“Importers and exporters will enjoy reduced clearance time, avoid the inconvenience and risks linked to physical inspection. They will experience a better and faster export process with reduced possibilities of short landings,” Kasaija said.

Dicksons Kateshumbwa, the Commissioner Customs noted that after inspecting the consignments, the system is configured to send out alarms from the Radiation Portal monitor through the Central Assessment System (CAS).

“The cargo scanner by design comes with all the necessary hardware required to operate including the non-intrusive Inspection hardware, the control unit, server, voltage stabilizers and the necessary software for image analysis,” Kateshumbwa explained.

Richard Kamajugo, the Senior Director Trade Environment pledged on behalf of TMEA to continue supporting regional trade facilitation initiatives in the region.

Meanwhile, the seamless integration between these scanners and other customs systems such as; Asycuda World, Outward Processing Relief (OPR), Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), Radio frequency Identification (RFID) and Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) is guaranteed.