The East Africa Community is holding discussions on the likelihood of a policy change in assembling motorcycles and vehicles.
Commissioner for customs at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Dickson Kateshumbwa, said the East African countries are discussing the feasibility of a policy, limiting importation of equipment used in assembling motorcycles.
“As East African community, we did a study to look at the issue of motor vehicle and motorcycle assembling starting with motorcycles. We already have a company making tyres in Uganda,” he said threatening more tariffs on imported tariffs as a protection measure for local manufactured tyres.
He further added that “If you are going to assemble a motorcycle here, and you need 20 parts, but of those, six are available in the region, we shall have to tax the six highly so that you consume the ones in the region.”
A report is due to be tabled next month to discuss the viability of the proposed policy change.Policy changes aimed at boosting local products have always been welcomed, with the main focus being on the capacity and quality of the products.
