Improving the Border Agency Cooperation
Among the OIC Member States for Facilitating Trade
80
goods and customs clearances.135 Customs authorities in these countries have launched
common customs modernisation programs, common electronic cargo tracking systems and
regional Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programs. They are also working on
elimination of duplicate security checks and on operationalisation of One-Stop Border Posts
(OSBP). These initiatives have lowered trade barriers between these countries, through
reduction of customs bureaucracy and security-related road blocks along the Northern
Corridor, for example. To realise further trade facilitation benefits, the countries have also
harmonised axle road control measures at weigh bridges, removed cash bonds, as well as
arranged 24/7 opening hours at all border crossings. These initiatives have resulted in
reduction in cost of transporting a container from Mombasa to Uganda from about 3,375 USD
to about 2,300 USD (saving of 1,075 USD). Besides, the time of moving a container from
Mombasa to Kampala has shorted to four days, from earlier 18 days. The initiatives have also
facilitated collection of trade statistics.136
Uganda has been implementing a program on elimination of non-tariff barriers (NTB). The
program which started in 2012 is coordinated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and
Cooperatives, involving all key border agencies, with a “stake in trade facilitation”. Strategic
aspects of this cooperation include the following:
 Establishment of an information exchange facility,
 Development and implementation of a communication and advocacy strategy for
eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade,
 Institutional coordination for removal of NTBs – an EAC NTB elimination Act/law has
been enacted and is under development in Uganda,
 Re-alignment of national laws and regulations, and
 Initiatives for introduction of a Single Window system.137
4.2.2. Tangible iBAC activities in Uganda
The Malaba One-Stop Border Post (OSBP)138
Introduction: The Malaba One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) has been operational since early May
2016. Since then, there is an increase from approximately 850 trucks to 1,000 trucks a day. The
legal base for this post is the EAC One Stop Border Bill from 2012. All border posts within the
EAC are planned to be built on the basis of this bill. In total, there are already five OSBPs
realised in Uganda, while one is under construction and another eight under the planning
stage. The next OSBP will be realised at the border between Uganda and South Sudan, which
joined the EAC on 15 April 2016 – creating this and other OSBPs depends naturally on political,
technical and financial aspects.
Control Zone: The Malaba OSBP contains a so-called control zone, which stays open seven
days a week, 24 hours a day, with two Customs Buildings in it. The one in the western part of
the zone is the Uganda Customs Building, while the other one in the eastern part of the zone is
the Kenyan Customs Building. Both buildings are operated by Customs officers from the two
135 Ministry of Trade expert interview, 2016
136 Ministry of Tradeexpert interview, 2016
137 The single window system will enable international traders to submit regulatory documents (i.e., customs declarations,
applications for import/export permits, certificates of origin, trading invoices, etc.) at a single location and/or single entity.
The single window is expected to increase the efficiency through reduction of time and cost for traders for moving cargoes
across borders.
138 Ruyter’s visit to Uganda, 2016.