Tax collecting body, Uganda Revenue Authority has begun to implement the ban on importation of cars that are 15 years and older. In June this year, parliament amended the road and safety act banning specific types of cars aged 15 years and above.
In a letter dated October 1, URA has also given vehicle warehouses and bond operators three months to sell any cars that exceed the 15 year manufacture date.
According to Dickson Kateshumbwa, the Commissioner Customs, the tax body estimated about a total of 5500 motor vehicles in bonded warehouses and in transit as at September 28.
“Effective September 30 midnight, no cars older than 15 years will be imported in the country. We have alerted our teams at ports in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. We have also adjusted our system to make sure that we make this restriction”, he stated.
He further asked car dealers to clear out their stock.
“We have put a grace period of three months after which we shall take stock. What some bonds have done is that they have already paid taxes but the cars are still in the bond”, he stated.
Some of the popular cars affected by the ban include; Toyota Ipsum, Toyota Harrier 1999,Toyota Super Custom, Toyota Krugger, Merc Class 1999, Subaru Imperza 1999, Toyota Nadia 1999, Mitsibishu Pajero 1999, among others.
However, special vehicles like ambulances, fire fighting tricks and tractors older than 15 years will not be affected by the ban.
The ban was slapped on grounds of road safety and environmental protection.