Despite a waiver granted by the Kenyan government, Ugandan traders are not clearing their cargo at the port of Mombasa.

Cautioning that there will be no more warning or waiver after this, Kenya Ports Authority managing director Gichiri Ndua is also now appealing to the traders to clear their containers before they are auctioned or destroyed.

In an earlier notice, Uganda Revenue Authority informed traders that they had from February 15 until April 15 (60 days), to enjoy the waiver which allows them to clear their overstayed cargo without paying the accumulated port and storage charges.

READ: Clearing of Ugandan imports resumes at Mombasa port

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Kampala on Monday, Mr Ndua showed disappointment at the slow response traders are showing in picking up their containers which he said are congesting the port.

He said: “As of March 4, 2015, there were 2435 containers for Uganda customers that have been at the port beyond 21 days. And of the 2435, 293 units (393 TEUs) have been at the port for more than three months.”

He continued: “It is apparent that many cargo owners have not responded to the amnesty accorded to specified Uganda cargo in the port scheduled to expire by April 15, 2015. Please take urgent steps and clear the cargo before they are auctioned to create space for business.”

According to Mr Ndua, congestion problem at the port of Mombasa is partly caused by irregular traders who do not understand the port transactions. He said such shippers ferry in containers without proper preparations and understanding of the import business.

In an interview, the Uganda chairman of the Shippers Council, Mr Charles Kareba, said the piled up cargo at the port may not be cleared by its rightful owners because they may not have proper documents for them.

He said: “The biggest problem is lack of documents to clear those cargo and ignorance.” He continued: “Most of them when given the bill of lading document they think it means the goods are on the way, that is not it. We now have a duty to sensitise them.”

The waiver was proposed at the eighth edition of Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit in Nairobi in December last year.

However, speaking to Daily Monitor from Mombasa Wednesday, Mr Everest Kayondo, the chairperson of the Kampala City Traders Association, revealed that one firm, Shipping Lines Company, have declined to effect a waiver saying they are not part of the Kenyan government. Until they agree to the waiver, the cargo will remain uncleared.