50 Uganda fuel trucks stuck at Malaba
Nov 13, 2010
OVER 50 fuel tankers destined for Uganda were stuck at the Malaba border post in Kenya, following a standoff between Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and clearing agents.
By Reuben Olita
OVER 50 fuel tankers destined for Uganda were stuck at the Malaba border post in Kenya, following a standoff between Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and clearing agents.
The row started when the KRA Malaba boss raided Interfreight offices and arrested a suspect, confiscating a modem and documents, which belonged to the Authority and were used in illegal activities.
The scenario is threatening to spark off fuel crisis in Uganda. By the end of Thursday, the trucks had stretched over five kilometres into Kenya.
Drivers ferrying fuel to Uganda are usually given the right to overlap but no truck was allowed to enter the KRA customs by irate agents who carried placards, demanding the removal of the KRA Malaba boss, Bonaya Godana.
The agents’ chairman, Stephen Otwane, said the detained agent had been given authority by some officers of KRA to enter reports on their behalf.
Otwane alleged that Bonaya was working in isolation to cover several scandals involving super match cigarettes, tiger head batteries and gold which were irregularly allowed back into the country after they crossed the border to Uganda.
Bonaya refused to comment on the allegations and referred the press to KRA public relations manager; Kennedy Onyonyi in Nairobi.
Sources some customs officials are involved in loaning modems and KRA passwords to outsiders to help them key in reports.
Bad blood between Bonaya and customs agents started last month when the Authority moved to limit the operations of its Simba online system that subsequently stalled the joint cargo clearance with URA at the Malaba border.
OVER 50 fuel tankers destined for Uganda were stuck at the Malaba border post in Kenya, following a standoff between Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and clearing agents.
The row started when the KRA Malaba boss raided Interfreight offices and arrested a suspect, confiscating a modem and documents, which belonged to the Authority and were used in illegal activities.
The scenario is threatening to spark off fuel crisis in Uganda. By the end of Thursday, the trucks had stretched over five kilometres into Kenya.
Drivers ferrying fuel to Uganda are usually given the right to overlap but no truck was allowed to enter the KRA customs by irate agents who carried placards, demanding the removal of the KRA Malaba boss, Bonaya Godana.
The agents’ chairman, Stephen Otwane, said the detained agent had been given authority by some officers of KRA to enter reports on their behalf.
Otwane alleged that Bonaya was working in isolation to cover several scandals involving super match cigarettes, tiger head batteries and gold which were irregularly allowed back into the country after they crossed the border to Uganda.
Bonaya refused to comment on the allegations and referred the press to KRA public relations manager; Kennedy Onyonyi in Nairobi.
Sources some customs officials are involved in loaning modems and KRA passwords to outsiders to help them key in reports.
Bad blood between Bonaya and customs agents started last month when the Authority moved to limit the operations of its Simba online system that subsequently stalled the joint cargo clearance with URA at the Malaba border.