Aimed at facilitating trade, this will be made possible by the Electronic Single Window system, which will provide a single point for the business community to deal with the different Government agencies in the process of clearance of International cargo. 

It will be developed as an addition to the ASYCUDA World platform, a Customs management system currently used by URA.     

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Commissioner Customs, Richard Kamajugo last week said, "All agencies with a role in international trade will be linked to the system so that the business community can access service from different agencies at a single point, without moving from one institution to another."

"Somebody in Customs will see that a request for clearance by another institution is pending, and after issuance, the clearance will be transmitted electronically without the applicant having to physically move to collect the clearance".   

"Currently, the perception by the owners of goods is that all delays are caused by Customs but when the system becomes operational, it will improve transparency and accountability because it will be possible and easy to know how long each government agency has taken to complete its process, according to Kamajugo. 

Some of the government agencies that play a role in handling goods in international trade are the National Drug Authority, Uganda National Bureau of Standards and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. 

Importers and exporters have hitherto had to move from one institution to another seeking permission, a tiresome practice that delayed movement of their merchandise. 

A team, Kamajugo disclosed, is working with other agencies to set up the "infrastructure". Tests are expected to commence in July 2014, and piloting is scheduled before end of 2014.  

URA, which is already highly automated, was selected as the lead agency in implementing the system and already has 70% of all the data requirements, according to Kamajugo. 

The $5million innovation is being implemented by the government in partnership with development partners - DANIDA and Trademark East Africa, a trade facilitation organization. The project will also include building the capacity of other Government agencies to enable them issue online clearances and permits. 

Like the other interventions such as Single Customs Territory clearance of goods and Electronic Cargo Tracking among others, the Single Window will reduce the cost of doing business and improve Uganda's competitiveness.