President hails one-stop border functions available at Mutukula • 2017-11-22

According to Magufuli, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) for one has collected an extra 380.5 million/- since it opened an office at the then newly-established Mutukula OPBP in November last year.

TBS is one of several government agencies that have offices at the post, a move that is believed to have helped reduced corruption at the border to a large extent.

“While Tanzania has managed to increase its revenue in this way, I’m told that Uganda has also increased revenue collections by 110 per cent,” Magufuli remarked during yesterday’s official launch of the Mutukula OSBP, which was also attended by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.

Outlining other benefits, Magufuli said the World Food Programme (WFP) has been using the post to get 400 to 600 trucks to South Sudan carrying much-needed food aid each month.

The Mutukula OSBP has also significantly reduced delays in border clearance time that often tends to hinder intra-African trade compared to trade with Asian, North American and European countries, he added.

Clearance time for travellers has been reduced from 10-30 minutes to 2-3 minutes since the OSBP started operations, while inspections of passenger goods are now completed in just 30 minutes to one hour, compared to 4-5 hours required before, he further noted.

“Previously, trucks carrying containers required more than one day to complete inspection and immigration procedures. But currently, an average of 30 minutes to one hour is required, which is a significant achievement,” Magufuli remarked.

The Mutukula OSBP was built at a cost of 7.16 billion/- under funding from Canada and the UK.

Also speaking at the launch, President Museveni said the launch of the project is aimed at facilitating more business in the African region.

“Tanzania has provided almost all necessities, including commercial banks on the border. I will press for the banks to be built on the side of Uganda, when I return home,” he said.

He cited commercial agriculture, industries, services and ICT as particular areas that can create more jobs for the citizens of both countries.

The OSBP’s aim is to improve procedural efficiency by combining the activities of border officials in both countries. It eliminates the necessity of two stops for each function covering cargo and passenger vehicles crossing the border.

It helps reduce the amount of paper work required in, say, import and export procedures. By integrating the revenue authorities and various institutions and agencies of both countries, trade can literally grow faster.

More than 500 vehicles, mostly cargo trucks, pass through the post on a daily basis.

During President Magufuli’s three-day official visit to Uganda, the two presidents are also expected to preside over the laying of a second foundation stone for the Uganda-Tanzania crude oil pipeline.

Source: IPPMedia