Uganda revenue authority launches new electronic system

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has launched an electronic system that helps owners of goods, clearing agents and transporters to monitor the location and status of their cargo while in transit.



According to Trademark East Africa (TMEA), the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) will monitor imports, exports, re-exports and goods in transit to other countries in the region. “It will greatly improve the process of managing goods in transit by providing real time feedback to the business community and URA, reduce transit time and the cost of doing business,” said a TMEA spokesperson.



The US$5.2million system was co-funded by the Government of Uganda in partnership with the World Bank and TMEA. The system, developed by B’SMART Technologies of Malaysia, has been designed and customised to the needs of URA.



“When we piloted in October 2013, the transit period through Uganda was seven days on average and this has now been reduced to two days. This was partly because the drivers were making unnecessary stops along the journey. But now with electronic monitoring, this has changed. The system will track the movement of goods from the beginning to the end of the journey thereby enhancing security of international trade supply chain,” said Richard Kamajugo, URA commissioner for customs.