Uganda Custom in 10Minutes 1

Uganda Customs
in 1 Minutes
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1.0 Introduction Bonded Warehouses of different categories

Customs is a department in Uganda Revenue i.e. Car, Factory, General and Self-managed bonds.
Authority that is entrusted with; • The Customs Warehouse :” means any place
• Enforcement of laws and regulations to approved by the Commissioner for the deposit of
unentered, unexamined, abandoned, detained, or
collect duties and taxes imposed on imported
seized, goods for the security thereof or of the
and less commonly exported goods
duties due thereon.
• Controlling the flow of people, animals, goods • The Satellite Stations comprise of
and hazardous items in & out of the country Port Bell, Customs Bus Terminal, DHL and
Post Parcels (located at Post office )
2.0 Role of Customs • The Document Processing Center (DPC)
• Collection of government revenue • 38 Customs stations in Uganda
• Facilitation of legitimate trade • 5 Single Customs Regional Operations
• Collection of international trade data stations in Kenya and 1 station in
• Protection of society from harmful products Dar er Salaam, Tanzania
• Preservation of endangered species of flora &
fauna 2. Enforcement Division
• Transit Monitoring Unit (TMU)
3.0 Structure • Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System
Customs department is headed by a (RECTS)
Commissioner, assisted by five (5) Assistant • Revenue Intelligence unit
Commissioners. • Regional Operational teams : Jinja
• Marine Operations
• Joint Port Control Unit- Container Control
CUSTOMS DIVISION UNITS Program
• Non-Intrusive Inspections/ Scanners
1. Field Services Division
• Warehousing unit comprising of 130 Licensed
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3. Customs Audit Division
• General Audits Unit
• Oils Reconciliation Unit
• Refunds Unit
• Compliance unit
• The Authorized Economic Operators (AEO)
Program

4. Compliance and Business Analysis

Division
• National Targeting Centre (NTC) Unit
• Compliance Inspections Unit
• Process Management Unit

5. Trade Division
• Tariff Unit
• International Affairs Unit
• Valuation Unit
• Legal and Bonds unit
6. Commissioner Customs Office
• Executive Office
• Customs Planning unit which comprises of
the Training , Change Management and Human
Resource Development Units
• Customs Systems and Procedures Unit
• Projects offices( Customs Business Systems
& Enhancement Project (CBSEP II) & Uganda
Electronic Single Window (UeSW)
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CUSTOMS STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN BY DIVISION/POSITION

COMMISSIONER
CUSTOMS

AC AC CUSTOMS MANAGER
AC TRADE AC FS AC CBA
ENFORCEMENT AUDIT PLANNING

MANAGER MANAGERS MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER SUPERVISORS

SUPERVISORS SUPERVISORS SUPERVISORS SUPERVISORS SUPERVISORS SUPERVISORS SUPERVISORS OFFICERS

OFFICERS OFFICERS OFFICERS OFFICERS OFFICERS OFFICERS OFFICERS SUPPORT STAFF

SUPPORT STAFF SUPPORT STAFF SUPPORT STAFF SUPPORT STAFF SUPPORT STAFF SUPPORT STAFF SUPPORT STAFF
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Customs Leadership

Mr.Abel Kagumire Mr. Kisaale James

Assistant Commissioner Assistant Commissioner
Customs Audit Trade

Mr. Magera Stephen Ms.Sarah Arinaitwe Kasheka Ms.Agnes Nabwire Asobola

Mr. Kateshumbwa C. Dicksons Assistant Commissioner Assistant Commissioner Assistant Commissioner
Commissioner Customs Field Services Customs Business analysis Enforcement
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4.0 Staff
The Customs staff establishment refers to the staff numbers by rank,
division, station deployments and overall totals in the department. The
numbers are broken down in the table below;

CUSTOMS ESTABLISHMENT BY DIVISION

Commissioner Customs Office 66

Trade 35
Audit 68
Compliance & Business Analysis 45
Enforcement 198
Field Services 497
Total 909
Gender break down of Customs Staff
The staff in the Customs Department are broken down in gender as
follows;
Male Female

65.2% 34.8%
5.0 Customs Office Locations:
The department has offices in 65 locations all over the country and with-
in the East African Region.
Uganda Custom in 10Minutes
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6.0. Initiatives Implemented 4. Transit Management System

(Validation Platform - December 2016)
1. Authorized Economic Operators’ Program: AEO A centralized Bond retirement mechanism with a GPS
Implemented in 2013 enabled photographic evidence of arrival of the cargo
It is a trade facilitation program that promotes at destination / exit station
security of international trade supply chain. Under this
arrangement, businesses which comply with customs 5. The Transit Management System
laws and regulations benefit from customs preferential (Part Lot –Management - February 2018 )
treatments such as fast clearance of their goods through A single point of access and view for all Part lot
simplified procedures & reduced inspection. clearances by all internal stake holders and a clear end
to end audit trail.
2. Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System
(RECTS) 2016 6. The Transit Automatic Notification and
It’s a web-based integrated system used for real-time Suspension Mechanism - January 2016
24/7 monitoring of the movement of goods that are Entails a periodic notification of the Customs Agent
subject to the Customs control along the Northern about accountability requirements, and thereafter an
Corridor member states of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. automatic disengagement from the Customs system
(ASYCUDA) if no action is taken.
3. Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) 2015
The Non-Intrusive Inspection enables customs officials 7. Single Customs Territory (SCT) started in 2015
to detect contraband, unaccustomed and prohibited SCT in the full attainment of the Customs Union
goods (e.g., narcotics and weapons) and materials achievable through removal of trade restrictions
that pose potential nuclear and radiological threats. including minimization of internal border controls
They are deployed at border stations and Entebbe on goods moving between partner states. Goods are
Airport, they screen or examine large portion of cargo cleared at the first point of entry; declarations are
while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade, cargo and made once at the destination country; taxes are paid
passengers. at the point of destination when goods are still at the
first point of entry and move under a single bond from
the port to destination.
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8. Automation of Clearing Agents’ & Bonded 12. Uganda Electronic Single Window (UeSW) 2016
Warehouses Licensing Process 2017 Initiated by the Government of Uganda, the Single-
All licensing processes were initially manual, tedious Window System is a trade facilitation initiative that
and time consuming. Automation has simplified the enables international (cross-border) traders and
application and tracking of the increased number of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to
applicants. The process is more transparent and faster . submit regulatory documents at a single location and/
or single entity to fulfil all import, export and transit
9. Improved Management of Groupage Cargo 2017 related regulatory requirements. Uganda Electronic
Clearance of groupage cargo was improved to cater for Single Window (UeSW) system portal can be accessed
a number of petty traders and/or individual non traders on http://www.uesw.go.ug
who by virtue of their limited capital (traders), or desire to
source domestic or office supplies from outside Uganda, 13. Automated Valuation Control
individually purchase goods, and enter into a contract Automated Customs Valuation Control is the Asycuda
with a shipper to consolidate, and deliver the said goods Module that detects declared values that are below the
at an agreed upon point of destination in the country of acceptable range. The system uses a Tariff Specification
export. Code (TSC) to specify the goods for valuation purposes.

10. Online Auction 2018: 14. Operational One Stop Border Posts OSBPS
Auction process of abandoned & unaccustomed goods Malaba OSBP 2017 Uganda –Kenya Borders
was initially manual with various shortcomings. The Busia OSBP 2017 Uganda – Kenya
processes have been automated and more transparent. Mutukula OSBP 2017 Uganda –Tanzania
Mirama Hills OSBP 2017 Uganda –Rwanda
11. Document Processing Centre (DPC): Launched 2017 Elegu OSBP 2018 Uganda – Southern Sudan
DPC is a centralized or single document processing hub
where all documentary check function for all Customs
declarations is done.
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15. Women Traders Facilitation Framework 2018

Implemented in July 2018 the program seeks to
increase participation of women in trade, help
improve gender imbalances, their contribution to
revenue mobilized , increase the number of women
owned AEO companies ,women engaged in Clearing
and freight forwarding hence contributing to
“Women Economic empowerment”.

16. ASYCUDA World: Automated Systems for

Customs Data.2013
This is a Web-based application or computer system
that supports paperless declaration processing
through the use of scanned or electronic
documents. It allows Customs administration
and traders to handle and submit their declaration
transactions electronically- from declaration,
capturing, processing, release till goods are exited. It
generates trade data that can be used for statistical
economic analysis.
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7.0 Revenue collections since 2015
The department has seen great achievements since the implementation of the trade initiatives
i.e.
• Improved Revenue Performance
• Increased revenue recoveries

Uganda Revenue Authority Growth in Revenue since 2005

16,000.00

14,000.00

12,000.00

10,000.00
Billion UGX

8,000.00

6,000.00

4,000.00

2,000.00

F YEAR

Net URA Targets Net URA collec�ons

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Growth of Customs Revenue since 2005

7,000.00

6,000.00

5,000.00

4,000.00
Axis Title

3,000.00

2,000.00

1,000.00

0.00

Axis Title

Target Customs
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8.0 Current Projects running in the Freight Forwarders (FUCAFF)

department 2. Government Ministries, Departments & Agencies
1. The Customs Business System Enhancement Project II 3. Business Community
Comprises of;
The Authorized Economic Operator Enterprise Risk 9.0 Useful Customs systems links
Management (AEO ERM) Project is to enhance
automation of the AEO functions, system interface, and Internal stakeholders
standards in data management of the AEO and post 1. Uganda Revenue Authority: https://ura.go.ug/
clearance audit function. It will focus on the integration 2. URA portal for MPF generation: https://ura.go.ug
of a risk management engine to support the institutional 3. Uganda Electronic Single Window :
Enterprises Risk Management process making the http://singlewindow.go.ug:8050/uesw/
international supply chain more secure by not only 4. Help Tool : http://help.ura.go.ug
managing risks, rewarding compliance but also facilitating 5. Online Licensing of clearing agents & Custom Bonded
trade. Warehouses:
The Airport Cargo Community Project (ACM) is aimed http://singlewindow.go.ug/license
at creating an electronic platform that will automate the 6. ASYCUDA World:
key airport customs transactions at Entebbe International http://singlewindow.go.ug/uesw/Downloads
Airport while providing a vehicle for simple, predictable 7. ETAX Cashier: http://10.1.0.179/etaxcashierapp
procedures and efficient service delivery to clients while 8. TEVIES: http://10.1.0.179/c36webapplive
leveraging technology to facilitate international trade and 9. CURES: http://10.1.0.179/cbmsgates
maximize voluntary compliance. 10. Agent’s licensing: http://asyworld.ura.go.ug/license
Key Stakeholders: 11. Online auction: http://singlewindow.go.ug/auction
1. Clearing Fraternity Agencies : 12. Transit Management System: https://tms.ura.go.ug
• Uganda Clearing Industry Forwarding Association 13. CIMS: http://cims.ura.go.ug:44448
(UCIFA), 14. Archived documents:
• Uganda Freight Forwarding Association (UFFA),
• Federation Of Uganda Customs Agents And
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http://10.1.0.69:8080/SADImages/
15. TGL: http://singlewindow.go.ug/atransporter/
Strategic Development Partners
16. Seizure Notice System:
http://10.1.0.179/seize/index.aspx
17. Online Transit Goods License:
http://singlewindow.go.ug/transporters GOVERNMENT OF UGANDA
18. Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System :
http://rects-ea.com
19. East African Community : https://www.eac.int/
20. World Customs Organisation :
http://www.wcoomd.org/
21. WCO East & Southern Africa Regional Office of
Capacity Building (ESA-ROCB): THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

https://www.wcoesarocb.org/

For external stakeholders:

ASYCUDA World:
http://singlewindow.go.ug/uesw/Downloads
URA portal: https://ura.go.ug
Help tool: https://help.ura.go.ug
Agent’s licensing: http://asyworld.ura.go.ug/license
Online auction: http://singlewindow.go.ug/auction www.bsmart-sol uti ons.com
RECTS: http://rects-ea.org
TGL: http://singlewindow.go.ug/atransporter/
Author: Uganda Revenue Authority - Customs planning
Publication date: January 2019
Editor: Susan Rhoda Nakaleya
Design and Layout: Topcat limited
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Customs Division Office Contacts

Customs Systems & Procedure: +256 417 442072
Field Services Division: +256 414 442168
Warehousing unit: +256 414 442120
Customs Business Analysis: +256 417 443287
Enforcement Division: +256 417 443624/ 417 442189
Trade Division:
Tariff: +256 417 443108
Valuation: +256 414 317208
Customs Audit: +256 417 443115
AEO Office: +256 417 443284
Commissioner Customs Office: +256 417 443101