Authorities at the Nimule border entry point from Uganda have said the newly introduced electronic system has slowed down the clearance of goods and created a backlog of haulage trucks at the border for the last few days.
The electronic system is new to many clearing agents who have not mastered it and the poor network hinders the timely clearance of goods, according to sources.
The director of the customs department at the Nimule border, Colonel Debol Riak, said that the poor network stalled the clearance goods vehicles but that they have now started moving.
“The vehicles have started moving. They just stopped for a few days and it was due to poor network but now it has been rectified and things are now moving normally,” Col. Riak said. “It did not take a lot of days, it was just one day and it was resolved.”
When asked about how the clearing agents were coping with the new system, he said those who are computer illiterate are facing challenges but they will soon learn.
“Yes, this is true, the gents have not known the online payment system and the network was not there. That is why if someone does not know a computer, it will be difficult,” Col. Riak added.
Nimule Town Clerk Max Yousif Khalafala confirmed that the new system has slowed down the clearance process.
“The movement of vehicles now cannot be compared to the past because in the past was done manually but now there is the introduction of a new system which delays the process,” Yousif said. “Electronic payment is the one working now which reduces movement but if we do not have the experts, things are difficult.”
The town clerk said he believes that the swiftness of clearance will improve as the staff adapts to the new system.