The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has introduced new rules for handling passenger baggage at Entebbe International Airport to improve customs clearance procedures.
Robert Kalumba, URA’s assistant commissioner for public and corporate affairs, announced that the changes align with updates to the East African Community Customs Management Act.
The new rules raise the allowable limit for passenger baggage from $500 (about Shs1.8 million) to $2,000 (about Shs7.2 million) for passengers who have been outside the country for more than 24 hours.
Kalumba clarified that the passenger baggage allowance applies only to items for personal use carried by the passenger. It does not cover gifts, goods intended for others, or items for sale. Goods that belong to a company and are brought in as part of a passenger’s luggage also do not qualify for the exemption.
Passengers must declare their belongings and present valid receipts that show the value of the items in their name to benefit from the duty-free allowance.
The URA said that the exemption does not apply to goods brought in for someone else or items meant for commercial purposes. The guidelines also set limits on certain items, such as 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of wine, and up to 250 grams of tobacco products.
URA commissioner general, John Musinguzi, explained that Uganda’s growing trade activities, with 19 scheduled flights to major trade hubs like China, India, Dubai, and Turkey, have led to an increased risk of some passengers disguising trade goods as personal baggage to avoid taxes.
To address this, URA has implemented new customs clearance procedures. If passengers arrive with goods that require tax payments, a streamlined process will be used to assess the amount owed. Passengers must pay the taxes within two hours to avoid their baggage being transferred to the cargo terminal for further processing.
For passengers with goods exceeding 50 kilograms or those of commercial value, their baggage will also be sent to the cargo terminal for regular customs procedures. These goods include phones, shoes, clothes, and electronics, among others.
Returning Ugandans who have lived abroad for at least a year can bring back personal and household items tax-free, provided the goods were for personal use. However, they must clear these items at the cargo terminal.
Certain items, such as used refrigerators, old computers, and used televisions, are not allowed into the country and will be confiscated by the State if brought in.
Kalumba encouraged all passengers to familiarise themselves with these new rules, emphasizing that the goal is to facilitate trade while ensuring efficient customs clearance for everyone.
