Uganda Electronic Single Window: how it works and its status

What the single window does

URA describes the UESW as a system where parties in trade and transport lodge standard information and documents at a single entry point ¹. It handles regulatory documents for import, export and transit ². The Observer, in an article written by URA staff, called it a portal for the submission, authentication and issue of permits ³.

URA says it is meant for use by most government agencies and clients in international trade ¹. The system sits on ASYCUDA World, the customs platform URA uses for declarations ¹. The 2016 launch report says the UK's DFID funded ASYCUDA World at URA ².

Launch and funding

Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde launched the UESW at URA headquarters in Nakawa, Kampala, on 4 November 2016 ³. The Danish ambassador attended ². A TradeMark Africa release of 8 November 2016 said Denmark funded phase one with a US$5 million grant and had given US$5 million more for phase two ².

The Observer reported in March 2017 that the UESW was a US$9 million project and that TradeMark East Africa provided US$5 million ³. New Vision, as republished by TradeMark Africa on 16 January 2020, reported that DANIDA funded the five-year project through TradeMark East Africa with US$9 million and that the project was expected to end in 2020 ⁴. The sources give the project size in different ways.

Agencies on the system

The 2016 launch release named the first agencies: URA, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, the National Drug Authority, the agriculture ministry, the foreign affairs ministry, the energy ministry, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority and the Uganda Export Promotions Board ².

The Observer reported that the coffee authority and UNBS interfaces went live on 29 October 2016. By the end of December 2016 the coffee authority had received over 1,157 quality certificates ³. The same article said nine more institutions were to join by the end of 2017 ³.

In January 2020, acting Customs Commissioner Abel Kagumire said the goal was to have all 30 trade-related agencies on the system by 2021, as reported by New Vision ⁴. URA's page dated 24 June 2024 says 22 of 30 border agencies and economic operators are automated and that the target is 30 ¹.

Reported results

The figures below come from URA and from press reports. They are not independent audits. Each carries its own date.

• URA's 2024 page says import clearance for selected institutions fell from an average of 14 days to 4 days, and exports clear in under 2 days ¹.
• New Vision reported in January 2020 that Kagumire said clearance time fell from 21 days to 14 days, then to four days for imports and two days for exports ⁴.
• URA's page says sharing preferential certificates of origin with Rwanda by electronic means saved clients over US$85,966 in 2018 ¹. New Vision reported savings of about US$85,000 a year ⁴.
• URA's page says the coffee authority estimated savings of UGX 1.53 billion on the transport of 15,333 containers a year ¹.
• New Vision reported that coffee permits on the system reached 40,000 and phytosanitary certificates 20,000, both cumulative to September 2019 ⁴.

Ranking figures differ

URA's 2024 page says Uganda's World Bank trading across borders index improved from 161 before 2015 to 119 in 2019 ¹. New Vision reported in January 2020 that the trading across borders ranking moved from 150th to 127th and the overall ease of doing business ranking from 161st to 119th ⁴. The two sources attach the figures 161 and 119 to different rankings.

How to get access

URA's page links the portal at singlewindow.go.ug and points users to the URA help tool for support ¹. The page does not set out registration steps or fees ¹. The Observer gave the address as www.uesw.go.ug in 2017 ³. In 2017 exporters could self-register on the URA e-preferential certificate of origin module and apply online ³.