URA Announces 80% Waiver on Port Storage Charges for Ugandan Traders at Mombasa
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has issued an important notice to Ugandan traders regarding a new amnesty on storage charges for long-stay containers at the Port of Mombasa.
According to the announcement, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has introduced an 80 percent waiver on port storage charges for transit containers that have remained at the port for more than 21 days, effective 15th October 2025.
URA has urged all Ugandan traders with affected cargo to take advantage of this temporary waiver by formally applying to the Kenya Ports Authority for consideration. The waiver period will run until 6th November 2025, after which the usual storage and demurrage charges will resume.
The Authority further cautioned that any long-stay transit containers not cleared within the amnesty period will be transferred to the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD) at the owner’s expense. Once moved, such containers will attract the normal storage charges calculated from the date of arrival at Mombasa.
Reacting to the development, Ms. Olive Kigongo, President of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI), welcomed the initiative and urged the business community to seize the opportunity.
“This is a timely relief for our business community, especially those affected by high storage and logistical costs. I urge all our members to act swiftly and take full advantage of this waiver to decongest the port and ease the flow of goods into Uganda,” Ms. Kigongo said.
She further emphasized that faster clearance of goods would enhance trade facilitation and lower operational costs for Ugandan importers.
“Let us not wait until the deadline. The Chamber continues to engage with both URA and KPA to ensure that our traders benefit fully from this arrangement,” she added.
Ms. Kigongo reaffirmed UNCCI’s commitment to continued collaboration with regional partners to promote smoother trade flows, reduce the cost of doing business, and strengthen the competitiveness of Ugandan enterprises across the East African market.
