G/TFA/N/UGA/1  
 
15 January 2020  
(20-0459) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM UGANDA  
The following communica tion, dated  13 January 2020 , is being circulated at th e request of the 
delegation of  Uganda for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification dated 7 August 2015 (WT/PCTF/N/UGA/1), Uganda hereby makes 
the following notifications in accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement 
(WT/L/931).  
  
  G/TFA/N/UGA/1  
 
- 2 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 1  Publication and Availability of Information  
Article 1.1  Publication  B 1 July 2020  1 July 2023  - 
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Creation of a comprehensive trade 
information portal with advanced ICT 
infrastructure.  
2. Documentation under the national trade 
portal/ financial support for translation.  
3. Review, develop and establish information 
management systems where they do not 
exist in other trade facilitating entities.  
4. Review and develop appropriate statutory 
instruments necessary for the simplification 
of the TF initiatives and measures.  
5. Purchase and install the required modern 
equipment and infrastructure.  
6. Review and strengthen rules and 
regulations to support efficient 
management of trade information systems.  
7. Develop and operationalize rules and 
guidelines for publishing information via 
internet taking into consideration the 
interests of the different stakeholders.  
8. Develop and impleme nt change 
management strategy in the different 
organisations/Training and sensitization of 
all stakeholders.  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Assessment of existing enquiry points, 
technology used , etc. 
2. Establish a national enquiry and call centre 
to ensure that MTIC coordinates all the 
other institutions in this activity.  
3. Purchase necessary equipment and train 
personnel.  
4. Fund the national enquiry point . 
5. Strengthen SPS and TBT Committees . 
Article 1.4  Notification  A - - - 
Article 2  Opportunity  to Comment, Information before Entry into Force and Consultations   
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information 
Before Entry into Force  B 1 July 2020  1 July 2023  - 
Article 2.2  Consultations  B 1 July 2020 1 July 2023  -  
  G/TFA/N/UGA/1  
 
- 3 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 B 1 July 2020  1 July 2023  - 
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 B 1 July 2020  1 July 2023  - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Develop and implement a project on 
standard operating procedures on import 
and rapid alert and border agency 
coordination.  
2. Equip and establish infrastructure to detect 
food hazards, including early warning 
systems.  
3. Develop and monitor implementation of a 
risk management strategy.  
4. Administrative guidelines and standard 
operating procedures that will manage risks 
coming from the implementation of the 
national SPS framework . 
5. Train Staff and stakeholders . 
Article 5.2  Detention  A - - - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Laboratories at entry/exist points to 
undertake testing.  
2. Upgrading of existing laboratories with 
relevant infrastructures.  
3. Training of the Laboratories staff on the use 
of international best practices.  
Article 6  Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation and Penalties  
Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
Imposed on or in Connection with 
Importation and Exportation  B 1 July 2020  1 July 2023  - 
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  B 1 July 2020  1 July 2023  - 
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  B 1 July 2020  1 July 2023  - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Development of the ICT infrastructure for 
the border agencies and acquisition of 
equipment.   
  G/TFA/N/UGA/1  
 
- 4 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
2. Establishment of logistics centres at all the 
borders to provide that service.  
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Sensitization of stakeholders . 
2. Develop and roll out relevant IT 
infrastructure and equipment . 
3. Procure and deploy affordable and reliable 
internet interconnectivity . 
4. Develop and implement training, 
sensitization and awareness programme.  
5. Develop and implement change 
management programme . 
6. Review and strengthen the legal framework 
to provide secure el ectronic payments.  
7. Develop and implement a framework 
(including procedures, standards and 
regulations) to support the rolling out of e -
payments . 
8. Develop and expedite the implementation of 
the e-payment gateway.  
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  B 1 July 2020  1 July 2023  - 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Review of the profiling mechanism and 
procedures in the customs and in other 
government agencies.  
2. Training and capacity build border agencies 
on risk management.  
3. Establish an ICT infrastructure to support 
national risk management framework.  
4. Develop multi-agency risk management 
framework . 
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  A - - - 
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Undertake national and EAC time Release 
studies . 
2. Develop and implement a programme for 
training border and transit corridor 
personnel . 
3. Develop and implement a framework for 
procuring professional firms to carry out 
periodic time release studies.   
  G/TFA/N/UGA/1  
 
- 5 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
4. Launch and monitor the carrying out of the 
periodic national and EAC time release 
studies and benchmark them against 
previous study results and the international 
best practices . 
5. Identify performance gaps and propose 
measures to address them.  
6. Develop and imp lement a coordination 
mechanism for improving border and transit 
operations and release times.  
7. Develop, identify and agree the maximum 
target time release standards.  
8. Train personnel.  
9. Establish a coordination mechanism.  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Sensitization of the private stakeholders . 
2. Change management.  
3. Develop a National mechanism for 
coordination and cooperation between 
Customs and other border agencies.  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Establish a legal regime, regulations and 
procedures.  
2. Review of procedures in other agencies.  
3. Amend the SPS Protocol.  
Article 7.9  Perishable G oods C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Establishment of laboratories and 
acquisition of equipment to undertake 
testing for all perishable goods at all the 
customs zones.  
2. Train staff on handling perishable goods.  
3. Develop or review of relevant laws and 
undertake necessary reforms.  
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Review existing cooperation mechanisms 
both within Uganda and across borders . 
2. Training (Coordinated Border 
Management).  
3. Fund the border agencies.  
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for I mport  under Customs Control  
 A - - -  
  G/TFA/N/UGA/1  
 
- 6 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. A review of existing formalities be 
comprehensively carried out in relevant TF 
Agencies with a view of simplifying trade 
documents.  
2. Harmonize national procedures at the 
border points with those of the bordering 
countries.  
3. Simplify and standardize trade documents 
and making them easily available.  
4. undertake legislative and regulatory review 
on procedures and documentation 
requirements.  
5. Carry out stakeholders ' sensitization on the 
revised procedures.  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Examine what happens in the other 
agencies and amend the law where 
necessary.  
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  B 1 July 2020  1 July 2023  - 
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. ICT Infrastructure . 
2. Institutional capacity development  
3. Training of personnel and sensitization . 
Article 10.5  Pre-shipment Inspection  A - - - 
Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  A - - - 
Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Review of existing border/ administrative 
procedures with a view of simplifying 
documentation.  
2. Training of experts and other stakeholders.  
Article 10.8  Rejected G oods A - - - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward 
and Outward Processing  A - - - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Review and harmonize axle load limits 
across the EAC region . 
2. Review and harmonize compensation 
requirements under the COMESA Yellow 
Card (regional approach – Insurance) . 
3. Review difference in implementation of 
Yellow Card policy in Kenya and Uganda.  
4. Sensitization   
  G/TFA/N/UGA/1  
 
- 7 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 12  Customs C ooperation  
 C 1 July 2024  To be determined  1. Review of current procedures . 
2. Review of current legal requirements . 
3. Establish legal requirements and 
implementation guidelines . 
4. Sensitization both public and private 
sector . 
 
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