Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has implemented enhancements in ASYCUDA under the Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) Upgrade Project to improve the accuracy of vehicle and container identification and strengthen the matching of scanned cargo images to the correct Customs declaration.

The enhancements introduce improved validation of vehicle plate numbers and container numbers captured during Customs processing.

Stakeholders are therefore required to ensure that these identifiers are accurately captured and verified before submission of Customs documents.

WHAT IS CHANGING?

Vehicle plate numbers and container numbers must be captured as continuous alphanumeric values, without spaces, hyphens or other special characters.

The letters and numbers forming the identifier must correspond to those displayed on the physical vehicle or container. The sequence must not be altered, shortened or rearranged.

1. VEHICLE PLATE NUMBERS

Vehicle plate numbers must be captured using letters and numbers only, without spaces, hyphens or other special characters.

For example:

Capture as: UBD123A

Accordingly:

Correct: UBD123A
Do not enter: UBD 123 A
Do not enter: UBD-123-A
Do not enter: UBD/123/A

FRONT AND REAR PLATE CAPTURE AT DEPARTURE

As part of the enhancement, the front and rear vehicle plate numbers are captured separately at Departure.

The registration displayed on the front plate and the registration displayed on the rear plate will be captured in their respective Front Plate Number and Rear Plate Number fields during Customs processing.

Both fields accept alphanumeric characters only. Spaces, hyphens and other special characters should therefore not be entered.

2. CONTAINER NUMBERS

Container numbers must be captured in accordance with the internationally recognized ISO 6346 container identification structure.

A standard freight-container identification number consists of:

• 3 letters identifying the container owner/operator;
• 1 letter identifying the equipment category;
• 6 digits forming the container serial number; and
• 1 check digit used to validate the container number.

The complete container number must be entered as one continuous alphanumeric value, without spaces, hyphens or other special characters.

For example:

Displayed: ABCU 123456 7
Capture as: ABCU1234567

Accordingly:

Correct: ABCU1234567
Do not enter: ABCU 123456 7
Do not enter: ABCU-123456-7
Do not enter: ABCU/123456/7

The letters and numbers captured must correspond to those displayed on the physical container. No character forming part of the container number should be omitted, substituted or rearranged.

WHAT STAKEHOLDERS ARE REQUIRED TO DO

Clearing agents, freight forwarders, transporters and other affected stakeholders are required to:

• Verify vehicle plate and container numbers before submitting Customs documents.
• Ensure that vehicle plate numbers captured on declarations, T1s and Exit Notes correspond to the actual vehicle presented for Customs processing.
• Capture vehicle plate numbers as continuous alphanumeric values without spaces, hyphens or other special characters.
• Confirm container numbers from the physical container or the relevant supporting shipping documents.
• Capture the complete container number in the required ISO 6346 structure, without spaces or special characters.

Developing Uganda Together

URA MANAGEMENT

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