Ugandan system failure causes cargo congestion

By Sammy Jakaa

Transport in Malaba has been paralysed for more than 24 hours following the breakdown by Ugandan clearing systems that has now caused congestion of cargo trucks at the border town.

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) online clearing system is said to have jammed on Tuesday morning, making it impossible to clear goods entering the country from Kenya.

Truck drivers were forced to queue causing a snarl up that extended for over 15km along the Bungoma-Malaba highway. Other motorists have been forced to use a single lane.

Clearing agents and truck drivers have protested over the slow pace at which URA was repairing their system.

Mr Patrick Yugi, a clearing agent, said the system has been experiencing a lot of problems since it was launched early this year. He claimed that URA online system software known as Ascuda was slow and regularly breaks down. 

He, however, said URA had assured them that they were committed to addressing the problem to ease movement of cargo trucks.

Malaba branch Long Distance Truck Drivers and Allied Workers Union Chairman James Njoroge said the system had taken too long to be repaired and blamed Ugandan authorities for not issuing official communication on time.

Mr Njoroge, however, asked truck drivers to be patient as they seek clarification from relevant authorities.

Kenya Revenue Authority officials at Malaba border said they were working together with their Ugandan counterparts to resolve the problem quickly.