This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
Published on September 23, 2019, hundreds of imported vehicles destined for Uganda are now facing auction in Mombasa, Kenya, due to failure to clear customs within the statutory 30-day period.
The vehicles, which have exceeded their clearance and warehousing period as per the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004, are now being auctioned off to decongest warehouses and avoid accruing more storage charges.
According to Charles Busomba, a URA official in Mombasa, the auction process began early this month and has already seen a number of vehicles sold.
“Due process was followed and we placed public notices in different media and in our government website to attract bidders. We have auctioned scores of them and hope the remaining to be sold in the next few days,” said Mr Busomba.
The auction is a result of Uganda's high demand for used cars, with the country importing an average of 2,500 vehicles per month. However, the Ugandan law on importation of used cars permits vehicles older than eight years, which is illegal in Kenya.
Despite this, the auction has not attracted many Kenyan buyers, with the Ugandan government passing legislation last year banning the importation of vehicles older than 15 years and removing an environmental levy on cars below eight years to encourage the importation of newer cars.
