This tale starts with a disclaimer. ~As an entity, we have no problem with a Ugandan returning from abroad to enjoy a cruise in his/her cool car back home~ In fact, we love the idea of it happening so much so that an incentive is in place for Ugandans returning home to bring a car back tax-free as long as they can prove that they've owned the vehicle overseas for longer than a year. These are often the cars you see with red number plates. Another provision is in place for Ugandans who are returning home for short stays to come home with swanky rides (enzinga), enjoy them here, and then return them abroad when they fly back. This provision is called a Temporary Road Licence (TRL) - a document given to foreigners intending to come into Uganda with their foreign registered vehicles or Ugandans working abroad with valid work permits coming back home with their foreign cars. These are often the cars you see on the road with number plates that are unique some carrying foreign flags and some names or initials of cities outside Uganda. The TRL is valid for three months, and renewable only twice. The two incentives, while legally provided within the East African Community Customs Management Act - EACCMA (2004) are often abused. To this end, the Customs Team One Enforcement Team 'dropped anchor' in the City suburbs for a multiple-day operation dubbed "Catch Up" that commenced on 13th February to address the abuse of these provisions, scouring places like Kabalagala, Kololo, Ntinda, Munyonyo, Entebbe, and Ggaba. The URA Headquarters impound yard now sadly has a couple of new cars due processing. These vehicles featuring Jeeps, BMWs in their Xs, prime Mercedes Benzs, and more were nabbed with expired TRLs, and sold to different individuals improperly while some lacked proper documentation. URA expects to collect up to Ugx 400M from the cars rounded up in "Operation Catch Up". Driving on Ugandan roads a foreign registered vehicle with an expired TRL is an offense. Additionally, lending out or selling a vehicle with a TRL without obtaining permission from the Commissioner of Customs is prohibited. Lastly, the benefit of a tax holiday on cars given to returning citizens of Uganda is not transferable and as such, if a sale is made by the returnee, the buyer of that car is expected to pay taxes as a new car importer. The car in question is duly baptized with a normal registration plate and off goes the red plate. We beseech drivers to avoid falling prey to an operation like this one by doing the right thing. #uraenforcementalert #customs101