Systems compared
Uganda customs and trade systems
Short answer
- Customs system
- ASYCUDA World, Uganda Revenue Authority 1
- Single window
- Uganda Electronic Single Window, launched 4 November 2016 2
- Single window host
- URA, with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives 2
- Payments
- Payment registration slip, paid at a bank or by mobile money 4
- Cargo tracking
- National system from 2013, RECTS from 2017 5
- Agent licence
- Valid one year, expires 31 December 6
- OSBP pairs in the EAC Act
- Five, with Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda 7
Customs computer system: ASYCUDA World
URA describes ASYCUDA World as a computerised customs management system that covers most foreign trade procedures 1. TradeMark Africa wrote on 8 November 2016 that ASYCUDA World is URA's customs system and that the UK Department for International Development funded it 2. No go-live date for ASYCUDA World in Uganda was found in the sources read for this page.
Single window: UESW
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and URA launched the Uganda Electronic Single Window in Kampala on 4 November 2016. URA hosts the system 2. Denmark gave a US$5 million grant for phase one through TradeMark Africa and committed US$5 million for phase two 2.
Phase one brought nine bodies onto the system. They were URA, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, the National Drug Authority, the agriculture, foreign affairs and energy ministries, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority and the Uganda Export Promotions Board 2. Targets at launch included a 30% cut in time spent lodging documents 2.
URA says the single window works by interfacing with ASYCUDA World. All ministries and agencies must integrate or update their clearing systems to use it 1.
An undated URA Taxman article lists 19 agencies and other users. It reports import clearance time falling from 744 hours in 2015 to 24 hours in 2020, and exports from 672 hours to 83 hours 3. It says required customs documents fell from 10 to 3 3. These are URA figures, not audit results 3.
Paying duties and fees
URA's systems FAQ, last modified 20 June 2024, tells users to note the payment registration number on the payment registration slip. They then pay at a bank, by mobile money or through other URA payment modes 4. The page links to a Visa and Mastercard payment option and to the Uganda Electronic Single Window 4.
Transit and cargo tracking
TRA says the Single Customs Territory was piloted from October 2013 on the Northern Corridor of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Goods from outside the EAC bound for Uganda are treated as direct imports, not transit 10.
A URA official wrote in WCO News on 21 February 2019 that Uganda customs began real-time electronic cargo monitoring in 2013. In 2014 Kenya and Rwanda agreed to adopt the Ugandan system, and the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System launched in 2017 5. The article said about 21% of transit cargo was tracked as of December 2018. It said just over 32,000 transit operations ran through RECTS from July to December 2018 5.
Customs agent licences
URA says a customs agent licence is a legal requirement under section 145(1) of the EAC Customs Management Act, 2004. Operating as an agent without one is a punishable offence 6. The licence is valid for one year and expires on 31 December 6.
URA says agents are personally liable for their acts and for taxes due from the goods owner, and the owner stays liable for the acts of an authorised agent 6. The undated page names one exception to the need for an agent, accompanied non-manifested personal baggage of travellers arriving by air or land 6.
Border posts
The Schedule to the EAC One Stop Border Posts Act, 2016 names five Ugandan pairs 7. Two more posts on Uganda's borders are outside the Schedule 7,8 9.
| Uganda side | Other side | Neighbour | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busia 7 | Busia 7 | Kenya 7 | In the EAC Act Schedule 7 |
| Malaba 7 | Malaba 7 | Kenya 7 | In the EAC Act Schedule 7 |
| Mutukula 7 | Mutukula 7 | Tanzania 7 | In the EAC Act Schedule 7 |
| Mirama Hills 7 | Kagitumba 7 | Rwanda 7 | In the EAC Act Schedule 7 |
| Katuna 7 | Gatuna 7 | Rwanda 7 | In the EAC Act Schedule 7 |
| Elegu 8 | Nimule 8 | South Sudan 8 | Nimule OSBP completed in 2020, per TradeMark Africa 8 |
| Goli 9 | Mahagi 9 | DRC 9 | Construction contract signed 16 April 2020, per TradeMark Africa 9 |
Common questions
What customs system does Uganda use?
ASYCUDA World, which URA calls a computerised customs management system 1.
When did Uganda launch its single window?
On 4 November 2016 in Kampala 2.
How do I pay URA customs duties?
Note the payment registration number on the slip and pay at a bank, by mobile money or other URA modes 4.
Do I need a clearing agent in Uganda?
URA says declaring goods needs a licensed agent, except for accompanied non-manifested personal baggage of travellers 6.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].
Sources
- Uganda Revenue Authority: How is Uganda Electronic Single Window structured, How does the Uganda Electronic Single Window operate, What is Asycuda World (undated, accessed 24 October 2026)
- TradeMark Africa: Uganda launches Electronic Single Window, edges closer to paperless trade (8 November 2016)
- Uganda Revenue Authority, The Taxman, compiled by Akinyi Winiefred: Understanding the Uganda Electronic Single Window (undated, accessed 24 October 2026)
- Uganda Revenue Authority: Processes and Systems FAQs (last modified 20 June 2024)
- WCO News, Geofrey Balamaga, Uganda Revenue Authority: Countries in East Africa cut transit time (21 February 2019)
- Uganda Revenue Authority: Why is it necessary to obtain a customs agents' license? Justification? Why renewal? (undated)
- East African Legislative Assembly: East African Community One Stop Border Posts Act, 2016 (Gazette of 15 April 2016)
- TradeMark Africa, provider page: South Sudan (accessed 24 October 2026)
- TradeMark Africa: DRC and TMA to begin construction of the One-Stop Border Post (OSPB) at Mahagi, Ituri (26 June 2020)
- Tanzania Revenue Authority: Single Customs Territory (SCT) (accessed 24 October 2026)
Related
- Northern Corridor: Mombasa to the Great Lakes
The Northern Corridor links Mombasa port to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and eastern DRC. Agreement, routes, rail, port and tracking facts.
- Electronic single windows compared: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania
Kenya TradeNet, the Uganda Electronic Single Window, the Rwanda Electronic Single Window and Tanzania's TeSWS. Launch dates, operators and agencies.
- Electronic cargo tracking compared across East Africa
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda share RECTS. Tanzania runs its own ECTS. The DRC lists a transit tracking tool. Dates, costs and reported transit times.
- Kenya customs and trade systems
Kenya's iCMS customs system, the KenTrade single window, eCitizen payments, RECTS cargo tracking, agent licences and border posts, with dated sources.
- Rwanda customs and trade systems
Rwanda's ASYCUDA World customs system, the ReSW single window, Irembo payments, RECTS cargo tracking, agents, border posts and a reported audit finding.
- The DRC in the EAC Customs Union
How the DRC joined the EAC in 2022, the roadmap for applying the Customs Union, DGDA systems, border posts and corridors, with dated official sources.