The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has announced relief for Ugandan traders, unveiling a major amnesty on storage charges for long-stay containers at the Port of Mombasa. From 15th October 2025, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will grant an 80% waiver on storage fees for transit containers that have been at the port for more than 21 days.
URA is urging affected traders to formally apply to the KPA to benefit from this temporary relief. The waiver will remain in place until 6th November 2025, after which regular storage and demurrage charges will resume.
The tax authority also cautioned that containers left unclaimed after the amnesty period will be moved to the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD), with all associated costs falling on the owner. Once relocated, containers will incur normal storage fees from their arrival at Mombasa.
Responding to the announcement, Ms. Olive Kigongo, President of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI), encouraged chamber members and the wider business community to take full advantage of the 21-day amnesty. “This is a timely relief for our businesses, especially those facing high storage and logistical costs. I urge members to act quickly to clear their goods and ease port congestion,” Ms. Kigongo said.
She stressed that timely clearance of goods would enhance trade facilitation and reduce operational costs for Ugandan importers. “We should not wait until the last minute. The Chamber continues to work with URA and KPA to ensure our traders benefit fully from this initiative,” she added.
Ms. Kigongo reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to partnering with regional authorities to promote smoother trade flows, lower business costs, and strengthen the competitiveness of Ugandan businesses across East Africa.
