The Uganda Revenue Authority on Friday launched three important customs trade facilitation programmes to ease business operation across the region and the world.
The Centralized Document Processing Centre (DPC), Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) and accreditation of new Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) are all being funded by the Trade Mark East Africa, a nonprofit businesses supporting initiative aimed at the growth of trade.
Monitoring of transit of cargo under customs control in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya is now going be done by a (single) web-based integrated system, the RECTS.
Before Friday’s launch, each of the three countries had been operating separate national cargo tracking systems associated with challenges like lack of complete transit monitoring mechanisms resulting to instances of dumping, delayed bond cancellation and refund processing and poor information exchange.
According to the URA Commissioner General, Doris Akol, the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System is going to make traders enjoy a number of benefits during the course of importing and exportation of goods.
“RECT is going to facilitate seamless flow of transit cargo and a single view of cargo tracking along the corridor, eliminate non-tariff barriers in order to reduce transit times and reduce the cost of doing business,” Ms. Akol said.
RECT is also expected to provide real time detection of transit violation like theft and diversions, coordinate responses to alerts by rapid response units and provide regional viewing rights by both internal and external stake holders thus enhancing transparency.
A single Document Processing Centre situated at URA headquarters, Nakawa is now charged with all documentary check function for all customs declaration.
Akol told the participants at the launch that included ministers, business leaders and partners that the DPC shall be implemented in phased manners.
The minister of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde who officiated at the launch said the government is strongly behind the electronic system of trading and the required administrative infrastructure.
“The government is doing everything possible for us to go digital mainly in trading. We only need to sensitize the stakeholders to appreciate the benefits of these amazing developments,” she said.