Improving the Border Agency Cooperation
Among the OIC Member States for Facilitating Trade
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 Granting access to the IT-systems. Kenya uses for its declarations an own system
called Simba, while Uganda uses the ASYCUDA-system. Both countries provide direct
IT-system access to the neighbouring officers.140
 Centralised clearance in Mombasa, Kenya: Next to the clearance at the borders, EAC
introduced from 2015 a new way of clearance, the Single Customs Territory (SCT)
system. Goods that are entering the EAC in Mombasa, Kenya are cleared in there even
if the goods are destined for Uganda. To make this happen, Ugandan officers are
working in Mombasa side-by-side with their Kenyan counterparts. In addition, the
Ugandan Bureau of Standards, Veterinary and agricultural authority, and the Drugs
authority, among others, are present in Mombasa. 141 Goods that are cleared and
released in Mombasa can be monitored in a regional cargo tracking system. The
tracking system comprises of satellite connections, a central monitoring centre and
special electronic seals fitted on cargo containers and trucks, which give the precise
location of goods in real time. Finally, regarding the procedures at the Kenyan-
Ugandan border: trucks with centrally-cleared shipments don’t have to stop at the
border to fulfil any formalities. Next to Uganda and Kenya, also Rwanda is using this
system today. 142
Authorised Economic Operators: For cargo from regional AEOs crossing the border, there is
a non-stop procedure in place. Corresponding to a cargo having had a central clearance in
Mombasa, there is in fact a stop that does not require filling in any documentation. For national
AEOs importing goods in Uganda, there are no physical examinations at the border; instead, all
checks are done as Post Clearance Audits. These benefits are based on the risk analysis done in
the validation process for getting the status of AEO.
Sensitive goods: Uganda Customs is using a list of sensitive goods – e.g., cigarettes in the past
were escorted by Uganda Customs to their final destination. Now there is an electronic cargo
tracking system, and electronic seals together with GPS technology are used for monitoring
purposes. The plan is that this system will be used across the EAC in the future.
Cross-border communities: Uganda Customs is facilitating the cross-border communities by
the following means:
 A national ID is accepted as a sufficient document for cross-border travel,
 A simplified certificate of origin for goods below a value of 2,000 USD is in use,
 A simplified declaration can be produced, entered in the ASYCUDA system by the
Customs officers and
 Meeting space is being offered at the Customs building.
Cross-border trade associations: Uganda Customs is facilitating the work of the trade
associations by:
 Offering space in the OSBP Buildings,
 Providing information that is needed by traders and
 Delivering training on how to complete customs declarations.143
140 Note: the RADDEx system is no more in use.
141 Ministry of Tradeexpert interview, 2016
142 Ruyter’s visit to Uganda, 2016.
143 Ruyter’s visit to Uganda, 2016.