The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has impounded several luxury vehicles, including Jeeps, BMWs, and Mercedes-Benzes, for abusing Temporary Road Licences (TRLs) in a crackdown named "Operation Catch Up."
The operation, launched on February 13, 2025, targeted areas like Kabalagala, Kololo, Ntinda, Munyonyo, Entebbe, and Ggaba, where high-end vehicles with expired or improperly obtained TRLs were in use.
The URA Customs Enforcement Team found that some vehicles had been sold without proper documentation, while others lacked valid permits. The authority expects to collect up to UGX 400 million from the impounded cars.
TRLs are issued to foreigners and Ugandans working abroad with valid work permits, allowing them to use foreign-registered vehicles in Uganda for up to three months. However, some individuals exploit the system by keeping the cars beyond the allowed period or selling them without authorisation.
Driving a foreign-registered vehicle with an expired TRL is illegal, and selling or lending such a vehicle without clearance from the Commissioner of Customs is also prohibited.
Additionally, tax exemptions on cars for returning Ugandan citizens are not transferable. If a returnee sells a tax-exempt vehicle, the buyer must pay full import duties.
URA’s "Operation Catch Up" aims to stop TRL abuse and enforce tax compliance across the country.
