Timeline of Uganda border, entry and technology project events

1. 20 July 2015Historical

   Mirama Hills OSBP reported fully operational

   East African Business Week reported the Mirama Hills one stop border post with Rwanda running 24 hours a day. It cost US$7.8 million ¹.

2. 1 December 2015In force

   EAC One Stop Border Posts Act assented

   The Act lists five Uganda pairs: Busia, Malaba, Mutukula, Mirama Hills and Katuna. It was published in the EAC Gazette of 15 April 2016 ².

3. 29 October 2016Historical

   First agencies live on single window

   The coffee authority and UNBS interfaces went live on the Uganda Electronic Single Window, as reported by The Observer ²⁶.

4. November 2016Historical

   Deal to build Elegu and Nimule posts

   South Sudan and Uganda signed an agreement to build border posts at Nimule and Elegu, as reported by Eye Radio ²⁹.

5. 4 November 2016In force

   Uganda Electronic Single Window launched

   Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde launched the UESW at URA headquarters. Denmark funded phase one with US$5 million through TradeMark Africa ^26,25.

6. 9 November 2017In force

   Mutukula OSBP launched

   Presidents Museveni and Magufuli launched the Mutukula one stop border post with Tanzania ³.

7. 24 February 2018In force

   Busia OSBP launched

   Presidents Kenyatta and Museveni launched the Busia one stop border post. The UK gave US$11.7 million for construction ⁴.

8. October 2018Historical

   URA procures SICPA for digital tax stamps

   Daily Monitor reported that URA single sourced SICPA in October 2018 ⁵.

9. 15 November 2018Historical

   Elegu handover officiated

   Eagle Online reported that Minister Kyambadde officiated at the technical handover of the Uganda side of the Elegu post ²⁸.

10. 26 November 2018Historical

    URA receives Elegu OSBP

    Daily Monitor reported URA took over the US$6.6 million Elegu post on the South Sudan border ⁶.

11. 7 December 2018Historical

    E-passport issuance begins

    The government began issuing e-passports and the phase out of machine readable passports started ^7,8.

12. 22 March 2019Historical

    NEC and JSCGS sign MoU

    The National Enterprise Corporation and JSC Global Security signed a technology transfer MoU, as reported by Nile Post ⁹.

13. November 2019In force

    Digital tax stamps implementation begins

    URA began implementing the digital tax stamp system ¹⁰.

14. January 2020Historical

    Single window phase two report

    Acting Customs Commissioner Abel Kagumire said import clearance fell to four days and set a target of 30 agencies by 2021, as reported by New Vision ²⁷.

15. February 2020Historical

    Court halts digital tax stamp deadline

    An undated Daily Monitor report said a court stopped URA enforcing a 1 February deadline for factory equipment. URA began DTS in November 2019, which places the deadline in 2020 ^5,10.

16. February 2020In force

    Elegu and Nimule OSBP commissioned

    The EastAfrican reported the post was commissioned in February 2020 ¹¹.

17. 6 February 2020Historical

    Nimule OSBP launched

    South Sudan Vice President James Wani Igga officiated at the launch of the US$5 million Nimule post, as reported by Eye Radio ²⁹.

18. 29 March 2021Historical

    Mbarara starts passport enrolment

    The Mbarara regional immigration office began passport enrolment, per the Ministry of Internal Affairs ¹².

19. 26 April 2021In force

    Ministry reports e-Gates in use at Entebbe

    The Ministry of Internal Affairs said e-Gates were adopted for trusted travellers and full border automation was in progress ¹².

20. 23 July 2021In force

    ITMS contract signed

    The Government signed the digital number plate contract with Joint Stock Company Global Security ¹³.

21. 31 January 2022In force

    Gatuna border reopens

    Rwanda reopened the Gatuna post with Uganda after a closure that began in 2019 ¹⁴.

22. 4 April 2022Historical

    Old passports invalid

    Machine readable Ugandan passports became invalid after this date ⁸.

23. 1 May 2022In force

    More goods need digital tax stamps

    Cooking oil, juices and alcoholic, non-alcoholic and fermented beverages were added ¹⁰.

24. 18 April 2023Official finding

    Auditor General warns on new IDs

    Daily Monitor reported the Auditor General's December 2022 report found NIRA had no clear roadmap for replacing IDs ¹⁵.

25. 22 August 2023Historical

    Minister questioned on plate firm

    Minister Kahinda Otafiire told Parliament he did not know the digital plate firm. Fees of Shs714,000 for new vehicles were reported ¹⁶.

26. 22 November 2023Historical

    NEC Cooperation Agreement signed

    NEC and JSC Global Security signed a Cooperation Agreement with a 5 percent share of fines for NEC ⁹.

27. 19 February 2024In force

    E-gates open to all returning Ugandans

    The immigration directorate said all Ugandans with chip e-passports may use the Entebbe self-clearance gates ¹⁷.

28. 28 June 2024Official finding

    Customs fraud audit reported

    Daily Monitor reported the Auditor General's 2023 special audit on cross border trade fraud and border post efficiency ¹⁸.

29. 1 July 2024In force

    Entebbe baggage limit raised

    URA raised the passenger baggage limit from US$500 to US$2,000 for passengers out of the country for more than 24 hours ³⁰.

30. 31 January 2025In force

    Old number plates end

    Issuance of old number plates ended as digital plates rolled out, per URA ¹⁹.

31. 5 May 2025In force

    NIRA mass ID enrolment launched

    Gen. David Muhoozi launched the renewal of about 15.8 million IDs and registration of 17.2 million new applicants ²⁰.

32. 1 September 2025Historical

    Ministry says yellow fever card still required

    State Minister Margaret Muhanga said the certificate was still mandatory for all travellers, as reported by Daily Monitor ³¹.

33. 15 May 2026Historical

    Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak declared

    Uganda declared an Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus, per WHO ³⁴.

34. 16 May 2026Historical

    Ebola screening at points of entry begins

    Screening started at major points of entry and reached 38 priority sites, per WHO ³².

35. 17 May 2026In force

    Ebola emergency declared

    WHO declared the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the DR Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern ²¹.

36. 21 July 2026In force

    NCIC publishes service standards

    NCIC posted its service delivery standards ³⁶.

37. 28 July 2026Historical

    Minister declares Uganda Ebola-free

    Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi said Uganda was Ebola-free, as reported by Nile Post ³³.

38. 27 August 2026Historical

    WHO announces end of outbreak

    WHO reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths and announced the end of the outbreak in Uganda ³⁴.

39. 2 September 2026Historical

    Parliament opens digital plate inquiry

    The Committee on Physical Infrastructure began its probe into plate delays ²².

40. 7 September 2026Official finding

    NIRA before COSASE

    NIRA said 15.4 million new IDs were printed and 10 million issued ²³.

41. 2 October 2026In force

    Yellow fever certificate dropped

    An NCIC notice said a yellow fever certificate is no longer mandatory for entry ³⁵.

42. 6 October 2026Official finding

    Attorney General questions plate contract

    The Attorney General told MPs the 2021 contract contradicts existing law ¹³.

43. 20 October 2026Historical

    Plate inquiry ends

    The committee ended hearings and sought a meeting with the President before tabling its report ²⁴.

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