The DR Congo Directorate of Customs and Excise–DGDA and the Ugandan Revenues Authority– URA have endorsed an E-Cargo Tracking System under the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS). They will leverage this system to subsidize cost and time for business owners and monitoring of tax evasion. Subsequently, a RECTS control center will be launched in DRC.
The system will create room for real-time tracking of cargo to and from the DRC. The tracking will be done via an online platform at the control centers in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Congo. These centers will ensure that the risk of consignment diversion at checkpoints through fraud and theft, is greatly reduced.
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RECTs is funded by Trademark East Africa (TMEA) via a $642,000 from the Department of International Development (DFID). RECTs presence in the DRC will help for easy transportation of cargo in the country. it will also help businesses to cut off the act of physically escorting and monitoring sensitive cargo to and from the DRC.
Since its inception in Uganda, RECTS has aided traders to reduce cargo transport time from 144 hours (6-days) to 36 hours (a day and a half) and in the process help them save about $200-$250 per day.
Every cargo vehicle is attached with an electronic seal. This seal helps provide updates on the vehicles speed, location and also cases of tampering. However, Importers, transporters and revenue authorities will have access to this information. There are twelve stationed Rapid Response Units, who are at an alert regarding suspicious behaviors.
