Ugandan importers have every reason to celebrate this November. The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), in collaboration with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), has announced a 100% waiver on accrued port storage and customs warehouse charges for long-stay cargo at the Port of Mombasa. This joint public notice was issued on 6th November 2025. It grants importers a 30-day window from November 6th to December 6th, 2025, to clear their long-stay goods without paying the heavy charges that have piled up over time. It’s a relief that many importers have been praying for and a move that signals renewed cooperation between the two countries to unclog one of East Africa’s most critical trade arteries.
For months, hundreds of containers belonging to Ugandan importers have been gathering dust at the Port of Mombasa and various bonded warehouses. Many of these shipments were held up due to financing delays, incomplete documentation, or customs disputes. The result has been crippling, skyrocketing storage fees, demurrage penalties, and warehouse rent. These costs have often exceeded the value of the goods themselves. For small importers, especially those dealing in perishables or low-margin goods, this has meant huge losses and business paralysis.
The backlog also strained operations at the port. Long-stay containers occupied valuable yard space, slowing down new shipments, frustrating clearing agents, and clogging up supply chains for the wider East African region. It is against this backdrop that URA and KRA intervened, in what many describe as a trade relief and recovery measure.
According to the joint URA-KRA notice, the decision was taken to enhance efficiency, improve port operations, and support regional trade recovery. Kenya’s port authorities had been grappling with space congestion caused by uncollected Ugandan cargo, while Ugandan importers struggled under the weight of accumulated charges. The 100% waiver, therefore, aims to:
Decongest the Port of Mombasa, freeing up storage yards for new arrivals
Encourage the clearance of idle cargo, stimulating trade movement
Relieve financial pressure on importers hit by delays and high freight costs; and
Boost business confidence ahead of the busy end-of-year trading season.
This is a pragmatic approach, choosing short-term revenue sacrifice for long-term trade facilitation and regional growth. This is the real Santa!
The waiver applies to Ugandan importers, clearing agents, and traders with long-stay containers currently held at the Port of Mombasa or in bonded customs warehouses. To benefit, the affected customers must lodge a waiver application with URA or through their shipping agents within the 30-day window; Have cargo that has overstayed due to logistical or financial delays; and Work with their shipping lines and port agents to process the waiver documentation promptly.
This waiver covers accrued port storage, customs warehouse rent, and container demurrage charges, but does not extend to primary port charges, rail freight fees, or statutory taxes, which remain payable.
The benefits of the 100% waiver cut across the entire trade ecosystem. Importers and small businesses stand to gain the most, as the relief gives them a lifeline to recover goods that had been stuck due to mounting storage and demurrage charges. Clearing and forwarding agents can now clear backlogs and restore operational flow, while government agencies like URA and KRA will enjoy smoother customs throughput, reduced congestion, and better trade efficiency. For consumers, the ripple effect will be felt through a steady supply of goods and more stable market prices during the busy festive season. Beyond these immediate gains, the waiver injects much-needed liquidity into the economy and boosts regional competitiveness, easing one of the most persistent bottlenecks along the Mombasa–Kampala corridor. More importantly, it reinforces East African unity under the EAC framework, a sign that cooperation between landlocked and coastal nations remains central to sustaining seamless regional trade.
This waiver is not just an act of goodwill, but a strategic opportunity. Importers should treat it as a wake-up call to act quickly, comply fully, and plan better.
Here’s my free advice:
Apply Immediately – The window is short, only until 6th December 2025. Don’t wait for the last week; lodge your waiver application now.
Coordinate Efficiently – Work closely with your shipping line, clearing agent, and URA contact to ensure all paperwork aligns.
Plan for the Future – Avoid repeat scenarios by ensuring timely documentation, advance duty planning, and active communication with logistics partners.
Leverage the Relief Wisely – Once your cargo is cleared, reinvest the savings into improving your import cycle and compliance systems.
This joint URA-KRA initiative demonstrates that trade facilitation is a shared responsibility. The government has done its part; now it’s up to importers to seize the moment.
The cargo is free; don’t let the opportunity cost bind you. Time is ticking, file, clear, and move.
The writer is a Chartered Accountant and a tax advisor.
