EAC tax bodies to stop employing unqualified clearing agents

By Prossy Nandudu and Joyce Namutebi

East African revenue authorities will no longer employ clearing and forwarding agents without an East African Customs and Freight Forwarding Practicing certificate (EACFFPC).

The move is aimed at eliminating quack agents who have on many occasions robbed traders of their merchandise.

This was revealed by the president of the Federation of the East African Freight Forwarders Association, Mathieu Bizimana, during a graduation ceremony for clearing and freight forwarders over the weekend at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala.

“The EACFFPC certificate will become mandatory for licensing customs agents by the revenue authorities in the East Africa and part of the soon to be accreditation process of customs agents,” Bizimana noted.

He explained that the programme was designed to professionalise the industry and is being implemented by all EAC member states.

The EACFFPC is a joint training programme of East Africa revenue authorities offered to individuals already practicing or intending to practice in the clearing and forwarding industry in the region.

The six-month course equips agents with skills that will enable them discharge their roles effectively and covers customs procedures, tariff classification, valuation, Rules of Origin and application of ICT. The course also covers the basics of freight forwarding, communication, ethics and integrity and time management.

Richard Kamajugo, the Uganda Revenue Authority commissioner customs, said the industry lacks professionalism, ethics and integrity.