Uganda Revenue Authority has climbed the ladder in the World Customs Organisation (WCO) hierarchy.
Commissioner General URA Doris Akol’s Customs team leader, Mr. Dicksons Kateshumbwa on Monday received instruments of power from his South African counterpart, SA Revenue Services Chief Officer Customs & Excise, Jed Michaletos as the World Customs Organization East and South African Regional Group (WCO ESA) chairperson (Uganda).
WCO ESA Regional Group brings together 24 countries and Uganda will represent at the WCO policy commission, Mr. Solomon Kimbugwe, a Media Management Officer at URA disclosed to TheUgandan.
“This is a big step in the right direction for Uganda,” said Mr. Kateshumbwa. “The countries in ESA are united by customs administrations. The challenges and opportunities that we face are similar. We are going to see more coordination amongst ourselves so as to deal with challenges of illicit trade, challenges of terrorist financing, counterfeit marketing, technology hitches, diversion of goods and others.”
Mr. Kateshumbwa, is currently at WCO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Uganda’a ascension on the chairmanship follows Kampala’s hosting of the 22nd World Customs Organisation East and South Africa council governing meeting in May for a two-days to discuss matters tax administration.
A group photo of the World Customs Organisation East & Southern Africa Governing Council @spekeresort Munyonyo,Kampala #TradeFacilitation pic.twitter.com/MubGrXPABB
— UgandaRevenueAuthori (@URAuganda) May 11, 2017
The meeting that attracted 22 countries from East and South Africa was aimed at looking at how best customs can facilitate trade and creating a platform for countries to collaborate and fight mutual challenges within the region.
