Uganda Trade Portal

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Export

Registering with the Uganda Electronic Single Window (UeSW) is needed to obtain certificates of origin and other required permits for trade and to ensure these are transmitted to customs at the time of clearance.

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Certificate of origin

India certificate of origin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 electronic phytosanitary certificate

Traders are required to have a phytosanitary certificate for every consignment of fresh and dry produce that is for export. This certificate states that the consignment is free of any regulated pests and disease and conforms to the requirements of the importing country. It is issued by Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

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Obtain veterinary health certificate

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.

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Commodity

Maize

Cocoa

Dairy and Dairy products

Hides and skins

Tobacco

Tobacco has an organized production and supply value chain, where farmers are provided with; inputs, agronomic extension, and a ready market. The market value chain is organized in such way that companies sponsor the growing of tobacco by supplying all the requirements to farmers on a loan basis. The Companies then buy from farmers the tobacco they sponsored for export or processing after acquisition of export or processing license.

There are three types of Tobacco produced in Uganda;
Dark Fire Cured (DFC)
Burley (BUR)
Flue Cured Virginia (FCV)

The Tobacco Subsector is one of the main economic activity to many Ugandan farmers
in the growing regions employing approximately 30,000 farmers.

Preliminary registrations and licenses

Permits

Tobacco export - Full procedure for a first time trader

This procedure details all the licenses and permits a first time tobacco exporter will need to obtain until clearance using the Busia border as exit point.

Rice

Sugar

Precious metals (Gold, Silver,Platinum, Iridium,Osmium,Palladium, Ruthenium, Rhodium)

Preliminary registrations and licenses

Obtain user rights for the mining cadastre portal

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

The license is granted to the holder to prospect for minerals around the country and the license is non-exclusive. It is granted for one year and is not renewable.

Obtain trading license for gold

Obtain mineral dealer's license

The Mineral Dealer’s Licence (MDL) gives the holder the right to buy, sell and deal in minerals. Section 69 (2) of the Act prohibits any licenced mineral dealer from buying minerals from a person who acquired their minerals unlawfully. The Mining Act 2003 permits holders of Mineral Dealer’s Licenses to buy, acquire, sell or dispose minerals in the course of his or her business 5 from a person who acquired his or her minerals lawfully. The holder is required to apply and pay a prescribed fee. Every holder of a Mineral Dealer’s Licence is be liable for the due payment of all royalties due on any minerals bought, received or exported by the holder.

Obtain mining lease

The mining lease gives the holder the exclusive right to carry on exploration and mining operations in his or her mining area. The license is for mining operations and is granted for 21 years and is renewable for 15 years.

Obtain a location License

The license is for mining operations of a smaller investment where expenditure to achieve production will not exceed 500 currency points (a currency point is worth 20,000 Uganda shillings). It is granted, in the case of an individual, to citizens of Uganda or in case of corporate, only where citizens of Uganda hold at least 51% of ownership. Its duration is 2 years, renewable for other terms of 2 years each.

Obtain an exploration License

The license gives the holder the exclusive right to carry on exploration operations in the area of land (maximum of 500 sq.km) for a duration of 3 years, renewable for two terms of 2 years each. On each renewal, half the area is relinquished.

Obtain a Goldsmiths license

The licence gives the holder the right to manufacture products from any precious minerals. The licence is obtained upon payment of the prescribed fee. Licenced goldsmiths are required to keep a register showing all purchases and sales of articles of commerce containing precious minerals; the nature, weight, price paid or received and the date of each purchase or sale of the articles; the name and address of the respective vendor and purchaser of any items.

Permits

Gold export - Full procedure for a first time trader

Honey

Spices

Cosmetics

Fruits and vegetables

Food placed on the EU market must meet the legislation on food labelling. Trade packages and cartons of fresh fruit or vegetables must mention the following particulars:

Name and address of the packer or dispatcher;
Name and variety of the produce (if the produce is not visible from the outside of the packaging);
Country of origin;
Class and size (referring to the marketing standards);
Lot number for traceability or GGN if certified GLOBALG.A.P. (recommended);
Official control mark to replace name and address of the packer (optional);
Post-harvest treatment; for example, anti-moulding agents added in a post-harvest treatment of citrus fruits must be mentioned on the trade package;
Organic certification, including name of inspection body and certification number (if applicable).

Preliminary registrations and licenses

Permits

Clearance of fresh fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables-Full procedure for a first time trader

This procedure sequentially compiles the licenses, permits and clearance steps to be fulfilled by a registered business owner exporting a consignment of fruits and vegetables, of more than $2000 of value, for the first time out of Uganda, via Entebbe International Airport.

Bananas (Matooke)

Unprocessed beef

Confectionery

Iron and steel

Cotton

Alcohol and beverages

Vanilla

Simsim (Grains)

Plastics

Handicrafts

Flowers

Hot Pepper

Pineapples

Avocado

Chilies

Export of Assorted vegetables, frozen

Export of Kidney Beans

Pawpaws (papayas)

Coffee

Preliminary registrations and licenses

Permits

Coffee export- full procedure

This procedure sequentially compiles the licenses, permits and clearance steps to be fulfilled by a registered business owner exporting a consignment of unprocessed coffee, of more than $2000 of value, for the first time out of Uganda, via Malaba.

Processed product

Glass

Cement

Paper

Pharmaceutical products

Poultry and poultry products

Fish

Persons intending to deal in more than one specie shall require more than one license

Preliminary registrations and licenses

Permits

Export of fish - Full procedure for a first time trader

This procedure shows a sequence of different licenses a new trader of fish and fish products will need to obtain in order to export via the Busia border.

Tea

Timber

Clearance of crop products at Malaba

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Alcohol and beverages

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Paper

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Glass

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Avocado

Preliminary registrations and licenses

A trader wishing to export fresh fruits and vegetables must undergo an approval procedure prescribed by the Department of Crop inspection and Certification in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

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Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Bananas (Matooke)

Preliminary registrations and licenses

View procedure

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Cement

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Chilles

Preliminary registrations and licenses

View procedure

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Cocoa

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Full procedure - For a first time trader

Point of exit/entry

Coffee

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Full procedure - For a first time trader

Point of exit/entry

Confectionery

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Cosmetics

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Cotton lint

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Dairy and Dairy Products

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Dairy machinery

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Fish

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Flowers

Preliminary registrations and licenses

View procedure

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Fresh or Chilled Potatoes

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Fruits and vegetables

Preliminary registrations and licenses

View procedure

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

General goods

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Handicrafts

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Hides and skins

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Honey

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Hot Pepper

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Iron and steel

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Kidney beans

Preliminary registrations and licenses

View procedure

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Maize

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Motor vehicles

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Pawpaws

Preliminary registrations and licenses

View procedure

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Pharmaceutical products

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Pineapple

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Pineapple

Preliminary registrations and licenses

View procedure

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Plastics

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Poultry and poultry products

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Precious metals (Gold)

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Rice

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Second hand clothes

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Simsim

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Spices

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Sugar

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Tea

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Timber

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Tobacco

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Tomatoes

Preliminary registrations and licenses

View procedure

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Unprocessed beef

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Vanilla

Preliminary registrations and licenses

View procedure

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Processed product

Clearance

Point of exit/entry

Clearance

Consignment clearance inland via Mpondwe

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Consignment clearance inland tax free

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Clearance procedures for crop products

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Point of exit/entry

Value of goods