Uganda Electronic Single Window (UESW)

The UESW is a system that provides a platform on which all parties involved in trade and transport can lodge standardized information and documents at a single point to fulfill all import, export, and transit -related regulatory requirements. The System is built on ASYCUDA World platform and shall be used by majority of the government agencies and clients to perform international trade related transactions.

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To be leading single access platform for international trade facilitation.

To provide transparent, efficient, integrated electronic environment that will reduce the cost of doing business and increase trade competitiveness.

To develop and implement the UESW system that is fully automated and web based in order to facilitate trade through;

  • Efficiency; streamlined procedures that are cost effective
  • Transparency; i.e. accurate, reliable and timely information online
  • Competitiveness; through improved conditions of doing business, capacity building and use of technology

  • Establishing a system to allow importers and exporters submit trade related information electronically to fulfil import, export and transit regulatory requirements
  • Enabling users to track the progress in respect to processing
  • Regulatory agencies can also inform traders and their representatives of the progress of the transactions

  • 30% reduction in transaction costs for the private sector at URA, NDA, UNBS, UCDA, MAAIF, MEMD and UEPB including demurrage, administrative costs and improved service delivery
  • 30% reduction in the average trade document processing time (days) at the above institutions;
  • 30% reduction in number of documents (physical paper) required for clearance of exports, imports and transit through the elimination of duplicate processes especially by regulators; and
  • A fully operational NESW system designed and operational at all major public and private sector trade regulatory institutions.

  • The development of UESW system has automated 22 out of 30 border intervening agencies and economic operators who are now able to issue permits and certificates electronically.
  • Improved collaboration between government agencies
  • Platform is a catalyst for e-government given the targeted scope of the 30 MDAs.
  • Upgrading of the Customs ASYCUDA World system
  • Development of the Single Transaction Portal (STP) that includes bringing together all traders applications usually done by different agencies e-portals in to a single portal through which all traders will only transact with.
  • Standardized forms for all agencies and system linkages
  • Streamlined processes and One stop shop for trade and clearance information
  • Real time communication and follow up transactions between agencies
  • The system enables agencies build strong risk management systems to monitor –accurate information, the compliance history and analyze risk. They are able to focus on real risk (for examination), target efficiently (document check), accelerate checks, and improve post audit
  • Linked agency systems to ease the clearance process
  • Integrate same data in both systems, to be used for different purposes
  • Reduction of clearance time and costs of doing business
  • Transparency in the supply chain, Increased revenues
  • High turnover due to ease of import, transit and export clearance procedures
  • UESW implementation has resulted in to improved cross border trade, clearance time, reduced cost of doing business, increase in revenue and provision of accurate and timely statistics have been noticed. I.e.
  • Clearance time for imports has reduced from an average of 14 days to 4 days for selected institutions and under 2 days for exports and inspection results and quality certificates can now be shared electronically by agencies such as the UNBS & NDA to facilitate fast clearance.
  • Before the implementation of UESW system in 2015, trading across Border index was 161 whereas it has improved to 119 in 2019. The World Bank Doing business quoted some achievements made by UESW implementation as best practice
  • Uganda Coffee Development Authority, one of the agencies on the Single Window system reported estimated cost savings of 1.53 billion on transport of 15,333 containers annually as a result of coffee exporters fulfilling clearance requirements online, freight forwarders have reported average savings on stationery of UGX. 50m annually
  • The electronic sharing of preferential certificates of origin information with Rwanda eliminated charges saving clients over $85,966 business documentation costs in 2018.

Development of interfaces with the different agencies. These include,

  • Lead Coordinating Institution: Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives
  • Lead Agency: Uganda Revenue Authority
  1. Ministry of Energy and Mineral development, (Fuel marking by Global Fluids International, a company contracted by the ministry to carry out fuel marking for all fuel imports into the country), Payment interface has been finalized and now fully developed.
  2. Uganda National Chamber of Commerce (Issuance of Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin)
  • Uganda Revenue Authority (Issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin, automated Customs agent licensing, Bonded warehouse license module
  1. Ministry of Trade, Industry and Corporative (licensing of tobacco exporters)
  2. Uganda National Bureau of Standards (Sending Goods Inspection requests and Receiving Inspection results)
  3. Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (Sending of Import and Exports Inspection requests and receiving inspection results for Fisheries, Animal and Crop Protection departments)
  • National Drugs Authority (Sending NDA inspection requests and receiving inspection results)
  • Uganda Coffee Development Authority (issuance of coffee export Certificates
  1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  2. Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives
  3. Dairy Development Authority
  • Uganda Free Zones Authority
  • Warehouse Operators
  • Clearing Agencies
  1. Transporters
  • Airlines
  • Uganda Communications Commission
  • Ministry of Water and Environment (Timber)
  • Atomic Energy Council.
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