Uganda Trade Portal

Unpublished procedures

Obtain Quality Assurance Certificate for Coffee

The quality assurance certificate is required for coffee exports to Sudan only.

Obtain letter of registration of sales contract

Coffee contracts between importers and exporters are presented to and registered before an ICO Certificate of origin can be obtained. This is done at Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA)

Obtain letter of registration of sales contract

Coffee contracts between importers and exporters are presented to and registered before an ICO Certificate of origin can be obtained. This is done at Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA)

Obtain quality mark

Consignment clearance inland

This procedure applies to all products that have been cleared at the point of packing or bonded warehouse where inspection has been carried out.

This applies to inland,transit and transfers

Crop products

Clearance of crop products at Malaba

Consignment clearance at Entebbe

Obtain a Standards Mark (S Mark)

Consignment clearance at Malaba

Clearance of animal and animal products

Clearance of fish and fish products

Obtain market certifications

Obtain environment impact assessment

Obtain phytosanitary certificate for coffee

Certificate of origin

Consignment clearance at Katuna

Consignment clearance at Busia

Consignment clearance at Malaba

Obtain airport access permit

Consignment clearance of fish and fish products

Consignment clearance of animal products at Mpondwe

Consignment clearance at Busia to Kenya

Consignment clearance to the rest of the world

Obtain consignment clearance at Busia

Consignment clearance at Malaba

Consignment clearance for imports at Busia

Consignment clearance for imports at Malaba

Consignment clearance at Entebbe

Clearance (of fish)

Clearance

Clearance (poultry export)

Obtain licence for large scale processing of Fish Maws

Large scale processors of fish maws must obtain a license from Ministry of Agriculture Directorate of fisheries licenses and permits portal

Simplified consignment clearance of imports at Mpondwe

Motor Vehicles

Preliminary registrations and licenses

Incomplete timber procedures

Export of timber

Timber import

Milk and milk products

Export

Obtain export permit for milk and milk products

Export of leather and leather products

Proposed simplified procedures

Obtain user access on E Single Window proposed procedure

An exporter will need to register and obtain credentials to be able to access the Ascyuda world system and e-Single window for purposes for obtaining certificates of origin from e single window portal

Obtain coffee export license proposed procedure

Obtain electronic phytosanitary certificate proposed procedure

Obtain letter of registration of sales contract proposed procedures

An exporter of coffee will need to register every new sales contract and obtain a letter of registration of sales contract issued by Uganda Coffee Development Authority

Traders are required to register with the e single window portal in order to be able to obtain Certificates of origin.

Obtain quality certificate and ICO Certificate of origin proposed procedure

All exporters of coffee are required to obtain an International Coffee Organization (ICO) Certificate of Origin for each consignment as required by the International Coffee Organisation. A quality certificate is also issued to confirm that the coffee is of good quality and meets International standard requirements. These are issued by Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).

Obtain a performance bond proposed procedure

Proposed procedures for certificates of origin

India certificate of origin proposed procedure

A certificate of origin attests that a good has been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in the country of export and can benefit from trade agreements that grant certain exports from Uganda preferential market access in India. It is issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority.

South Korea certificate of origin proposed procedure

A certificate of origin attests that a good has been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in the country of export and can benefit from trade agreements that grant certain exports from Uganda preferential market access in South Korea. It is issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority.

China certificate of origin proposed procedure

A certificate of origin attests that a good has been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in the country of export and can benefit from trade agreements that grant certain exports from Uganda preferential market access in China. It is issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority.

Morocco certificate of origin proposed procedures

A certificate of origin attests that a good has been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in the country of export and can benefit from trade agreements that grant certain exports from Uganda preferential market access in Morocco. It is issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority.

COMESA certificate of origin proposed procedure

A certificate of origin attests that a good has been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in the country of export and can benefit from trade agreements that grant certain exports from Uganda preferential market access in COMESA member states. It is issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority.

GSP certificate of origin proposed procedures

A certificate of origin attests that a good has been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in the country of export and can benefit from trade agreements that grant certain exports from Uganda preferential market access in GSP member states. It is issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority.

EAC Certificate of Origin proposed procedures

A certificate of origin attests that a good has been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in the country of export and can benefit from trade agreements that grant certain exports from Uganda preferential market access within the East African regional community. It is issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority.

Obtain non preferential certificate of Origin proposed procedure

A certificate of origin attests that a good has been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in Uganda. The non preferential certificate of origin is needed to export to markets with whom Uganda does not have preferential trade agreements. It is issued by the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce.

Obtain preferential certificate of origin general proposed procedure

Proposed procedures for export of tobacco

Obtain tobacco growers registration certificate proposed procedure

All growers of Tobacco and sponsors of Tobacco growers must obtain a tobacco growers registration certificate issued by the local government of the district where the farm is located.

Obtain tobacco buyers license proposed procedure

A trader must first obtain a tobacco buyers' license from Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in order to sponsor the farmers or buy their product for export.

Obtain tobacco processor license proposed procedure

Processors of Tobacco must be licensed to establish their processing plant. The licenses are issued by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Tobacco export license proposed procedure

For every Tobacco consignment, an export license must be obtained from Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Proposed procedures for export of dairy

Obtain certificate of registration to operate a dairy processing plant proposed procedure

All traders engaging in the export or import of dairy and dairy products must be registered as members with the Dairy Development Authority.

Obtain certificate of registration to transport dairy and dairy products proposed procedure

All traders of dairy and dairy products must obtain a certificate of registration to transport the products. This is issued by Dairy Development Authority

Obtain license for dairy warehouse and storage facilities proposed procedure

Exporters of dairy and dairy products must have their warehouses and storage facilities licensed by Dairy Development Authority

Obtain certificate of registration to export dairy products proposed procedure

An exporter of dairy products who is not a producer will only need to use the Esingle window to register with the Dairy Development Authority

Obtain certificate of no objection proposed procedure

Every consignment of dairy must be isued with a certificate of no objection by Department of Animal Health

Obtain certificate of analysis for dairy and dairy products proposed procedure

An exporter of dairy and dairy products must obtain a certificate of analysis for every batch of the product they intend to export. This is issued by the Dairy delopment authority

Proposed procedure for export of fish

Obtain fish export certificate proposed procedure

The exporter must obtain a fish export license for every consignment of fish and fish products. It is issued by Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate of fisheries licenses and permits portal

Obtain certificate of establishment approval proposed procedure

The facility where fish is processed must have a certificate of approval which is obtained from Ministry of agriculture directorate of fisheries licenses and permits portal

Obtain artisanal processors /fish mongers license proposed procedure

Artisinal processors and fish mongers must obtain a license from Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries

A trader wishing to export fresh or dry produce must register with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to obtain an exporter number and for issuance of phytosanitary certificates.

The facility where produce for export is kept has to undergo inspection by Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and if it conforms with the set standards, it is registered as a recognised pack house.

Obtain veterinary health certificate proposed procedure

All animals and animal products are issued with a veterinary health certificate in fulfilment of international sanitary requirements. They are issued per consignment by Directorate of Animal Resources.

Proposed procedures for export of Timber

Obtain timber harvesting license and forest produce movement permit proposed procedure

Traders in timber have to obtain a license to harvest the timber when it is ready and then they are issued with a movement permit to move the timber to a grading facility of storage area.

Obtain letter of recommendation for trade in timber proposed procedure

Exporters of timber are given a letter of recommendation after inspection by the Ministry of Water and Environment.

Obtain permission to export timber proposed procedure

Exporters of timber obtain permission to export from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

Proposed procedures for export of hides and skins

Obtain a buyer's license for hides and skins proposed procedure

A trader intending to deal in hides and skins must obtain an annually renewable buyer's license. This is aimed at controlling quality of the material for export. It is issued by Department of Animal Health

Obtain export permit for hides and skins proposed procedure

A trader intending to engage in the export of Hides and Skins must obtain an annual export permit issued by the department of Animal production and Marketing in the Directorate of Animal Resources

Proposed procedures for export of pharmaceuticals

Obtain license to operate as a pharmaceutical manufacturer proposed procedure

The license to operate as a pharmaceutical manufacturer is mandatory for any trader who intends to manufacture pharmaceuticals. It is obtained from National Drug Authority and is valid for one calendar year.

Obtain license to operate a pharmacy proposed procedure

The license to operate a pharmacy is mandatory for any trader who intends to trade in pharmaceuticals. It is obtained from National Drug Authority and is valid for one calendar year.

Obtain export permit for pharmaceuticals proposed procedure

A pharmaceutical manufacturer or pharmacy intending to export a pharmaceutical product must obtain an export permit through the NDA management information system.(NDAMIS).This license covers one specific drug or product and is valid for one calendar year.

Obtain verification certificate proposed procedure

This certificate authorizes an exporter to export the drugs/pharmaceutical products that are specified on the proforma invoice related to a specific consignment.

Proposed procedures for import of pharmaceuticals

Obtain certificate of suitability for premises and licence to operate a pharmacy proposed procedure

The facility where imported pharmaceutical products are to be stored or displayed must be licensed by National Drug Authority.

Obtain import Permit proposed procedure

An importer of pharmaceutical products must obtain an import permit for every consignment issued by National Drug Authority.

Obtain Verification certificate for import proposed procedure

A verification certificate must be obtained by the exporter for every consignment of pharmaceutical products. It is issued by National Drug Authority

Obtain quality mark permit proposed procedure

The Quality mark is a Third Party Guarantee of quality, safety and reliability of products to the consumers and an assurance of conformity to relevant standards. Products are expected to carry the same and it is got from Uganda National Bureau of standards

Traders intending to export flowers are advised to first register with the Uganda Flower Exporters Association (UFEA). UFEA is an internationally recognised association providing capacity building and industry development services to its members. It also lobbies for a better enabling environment for the growth of the flower industry, and has played a key part in the rapid expansion of the flower sector in Uganda. While UFEA registration is not mandatory, phytosanitary certificates for flowers are, in practice, only issued to UFEA members.

Export of gold proposed procedures

Obtain user rights for the mining cadastre portal proposed procedure

The Mining Cadastre Portal provides an electronic platform for all stakeholders in the mining sector in Uganda to engage directly with the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines. Licenses are issued electronically through the portal.Before using the Mining Cadastre Portal, one must first register for access.

Obtain mineral prospecting license proposed procedure

A person intending to search for minerals in a particular area will need to obtain a prospecting license. This license is only issued to Ugandan individuals and companies for foreign investors.

Obtain trading license for gold proposed procedure

Obtain mineral dealer's license proposed procedure

This license is given to dealers of minerals like Precious metals namely; gold, silver, platinum, iridium, osmium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium,
or any other rare earth elements. When granted expires on the 31st December of year of issue.

Obtain mining lease proposed procedure

Obtain a location License proposed procedure

Obtain an exploration License proposed procedure

An investor intending to discover minerals will obtain an exploration license. Only ugandan citizens can apply for it. Foreign investors apply as companies.

Obtain a Goldsmiths license proposed procedure

Obtain export permit proposed procedure

Minerals obtained under a mineral right or under a mineral
dealer’s license may only be exported under an export permit granted
by the Commissioner.

Obtain a movement permit proposed procedure

A person in possession of a mineral must obtain a movement permit in order to move out of or into any area where mining or prospecting operations are being
carried on between the hours of six o’clock in the evening and seven
o’clock in the morning.

Obtain Certificate of analysis for minerals proposed procedure

Obtain registration as an exporter with Hortifresh Uganda -proposed procedure

General tobacco procedures

Unpublished sugar procedures

Obtain a sugar export quota

Obtain sugar import permit from destination country

Import procedures for dairy and dairy products

Obtain certficate of registration to import dairy products

Esingle window user credentials

Obtain East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) membership

Preliminary registrations and licenses

General clearance procedures

Beef - Unprocessed

Bananas (Matooke)

Import of flowers

Export of cosmetics

Obtain user credentials for National Drug Authority Management Information System

To obtain licenses and permits from National Drug Authority , a trader is required to register with NDA Management Information system. The applicants are then issued with user credentials which enable them to access the Portal.

Processed beef products full procedure for a first time trader

Obtain Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Visa

Procedures for appeal

Obtain advance rulings

Obtain advance ruling on valuation

The Article 3 of the Bali Ministerial decision on the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) requires the implementation of “advance ruling”. This is a mechanism where Customs will issue decisions at the request of the person concerned on specific particulars in relation to the intended importation or exportation of goods. Advance rulings can be requested with regard to the HS classification, the origin or the Customs value of the goods in preparation for importation or exportation. Advance rulings are binding throughout the Customs territory at all Customs offices and valid for a specific period determined by Customs.

Obtain advance ruling on origin

Obtain advance ruling on classification

Import of sugar

Import of ICT equipment

Export of Plantains

Import of Alcohol

Export of mineral water

Export of mineral water - Full procedure for a first time exporter

A detailed step by step procedure for the export of packaged mineral water for a first time exporter with an EAC certificate of origin and using the Malaba exit point.

Transit of minerals from DRC via Entebbe airport

Packaging Material