Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has launched a $100,000 online portal to automate imports inspection and clearance expected to save traders time and money by providing an easy access to information, quicker lodging and approval of applications online. Traders can also get import clearance certificates, easy access to various standards permits, and ease in monitoring business transactions and receive timely email notifications on the go. The portal was developed in partnership with Trade Mark East Africa. In a speech during the portal’s launch, Uganda Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Hon. Amelia Kyambade a said; “We expect that the portal will be a tool for raising level of awareness of the traders on the regulations and procedures of import/export business. In the long term, it will assist in reducing delays in cargo clearance due to incorrect licenses or import/export procedures by the trader as well as assist UNBS achieve its mission.” The portal is expected reduce transaction time by 20% and up to 15% reduction in indirect costs associated with subscribing for import inspection services from UNBS. UNBS is expected to generate more revenue as a result of increase importer compliance levels, streamlined processes, improved transparency and increase volumes of imported goods as a result of reduced delays. TMA Uganda Country Director, Ms. Allen Asiimwe said automation of other government agencies trade processes and systems is one of the critical success factors to a robust National Electronic Single Window which is part of it’s wider ICT agenda for accelerating...

Ongoing protests in Burundi against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to stand for re-election poses a great threat to the East African Community trade links if not dealt with at its early stages. The protest which began on 26th April has recorded a total death toll of 30 people. East African Community Heads of State are currently meeting to resolve the conflict in Burundi and further urge Mr Nkurunziza to drop his decision to run for a third term. The ongoing civil war is set to affect the present comprehensive economic ties between the countries and there is a great possibilities of trade barriers on trade within the region. Economy experts who have been following on the growing trend of the East African Community (EAC) trade state that if the civil war intensify, economic efforts within the region will be thwarted. The police have however taken charge of the protest as East African Community Heads of States are hastening process and procedures to ensure the civil war is brought to a stop. Source: Intelligence Briefs.com

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija has tasked the newly-formed Uganda Free Zones Authority (UFZA) to create a friendly environment for investors in a bid to increase the country's exports and create jobs for the unemployed youth. Speaking last Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of UFZA's board of directors at the ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Kasaija appealed to the six-man team to reduce on the red tape associated with approving projects from foreign investors. "You are the pioneer team that is charged with the responsibility to spearhead the development of a new concept in this country - the development of free zones. Please provide a law that makes an environment free of long bureaucratic processes," Kasaija said. The board is chaired by Dr Fredrick Kiwanuka, with Dr Margaret Bbanga as his vice. Representative members include Lawrence Byensi (Uganda Investment Authority), Baker Mugaino (Uganda Land Commission), Cleopas Ndorere (ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives) and Stella Nyapendi, from Uganda Revenue Authority. Kasaija, however, cautioned the board on fake investors who fleece government of money. "Some of them [investors] come in sheep skins yet they are wolves," Kasaija said, in reference to unscrupulous individuals who pose as investors but end up asking for money from government after getting incentives. Formed under the Free Zones Act 2014, UFZA is mandated to help both foreign and local investors to set up industries and enterprises in the special economic zones such as those created in the districts of Rakai, Luweero and Nakaseke. In executing...

Rukia Shamte, the executive secretary of CCTTFA (L), and Peterson Mutabazi, an engineer in charge of transport at the Ministry of Infrastructure, exchange ideas during the Central Corridor stakeholders’ meeting in Kigali yesterday. (Doreen Umutesi) The meeting has brought together over 50 participants from the public and private sectors of Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Benjamin Mbimbi, an official from Tanzania’s ministry of Transport, said his government will not leave any stone unturned as it continues to improve transport infrastructure and services so as to reduce transport costs. “We acquired new wagons and this has greatly improved the reliability and efficiency of our central railway network. After the presidential round-table in Dar es Salaam, in March, we’ve commenced the block trains from Dar es Salaam to Isaka, Mwanza and Kigoma, with cargo destined to Uganda, DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi,” Mbimbi said. Tanzania’s intention, he said, is to have one block train “for each country, per week.” A block train, also called a unit train or a trainload service, is a train in which all wagons carry the same commodity and are shipped from the same origin to the same destination, without being split up or stored en route. Mbimbi said his government has also contained cargo theft at the port. However, he acknowledged, there is room for improvement and he hopes all members states will “join hands” to implement planned activities. Burundi’s Vital Narakwiye stressed that, for his landlocked country, the Central Corridor is a route of...

Africa’s infrastructure spend is set to rise as a report reveals that 30 per cent of the infrastructure is dilapidated. According to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) report, it indicated that East, Southern and West Africa could be spending up to $180 billion on infrastructure by 2025. The report highlights that at least 60 to 70 per cent of that amount is owed to infrastructure in South Africa and Nigeria. The West African country was leading due to the fundamentals of the oil price and naira shifts being stable despite being presently supressed. Head of capital projects and infrastructure at PwC, Jonathan Cawood, said that infrastructure outlook will be increasing by 10 per cent per annum. Cawood told CNBC Africa there is a “great sense of enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to engage in new ideas” from government developers, funders and operators of infrastructure. The strong relationship between China and African economies could see the Asian country being a key player in terms of funding, knowhow and labour. Although Cawood notes that localisation and local participation should be a priority moving forward. Capital innovation for infrastructure requires clarity of regulatory frameworks, so that investors feel “more secure” of their long-term nature. Shortage of funding came out as the main issue in the PwC survey, however Cawood said after unpacking it, there was actually “a tremendous amount of funding available”. “It’s really about better project preparation and feasible projects that are part of a bigger longer term master plan.” On the issue of...

Regional business with Burundi has been slowing at an alarming rate in the past weeks amid persistent protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid to run for a third term in office. When The New Times visited the Nemba One Stop Border Post, on Thursday, the usually active border crossing was relatively dormant. Besides a visiting team of regional experts who were visiting to assess operations at the border post, immigration and customs officers were attending to very few travelers. Shops, forex bureaus and tea houses operating at the border were open but no clients streamed in and out. "Things are not good today. I am contemplating closing. I am wasting time here," said a forex bureau dealer who preferred anonymity. Four of his colleagues sat about indulging in chit-chat outside the small structure that houses two forex bureaus. On the Burundian side of the border, forex bureau agents were disheartened when they learnt that this reporter was not bringing business but sought information. They refused to talk. The cause of the state of affairs, apparently, is that most of the buses and the heavy trucks usually criss-crossing the Kigali-Bujumbura route halted operations as owners cautiously keep an eye on events in Burundi, hoping the situation in the East African nation calms. Political events in the capital Bujumbura, and the entire country, took a dip when, on April 26, Burundi's ruling CNDD-FDD political party picked President Nkurunziza as its candidate for what would be his third term in office, two months...

COALITION of the willing which created so much fuss in the East African integration process in the past one year is a thing of the past. The TradeMark Africa Country Director, Dr Josephat Kweka, said last week that East African Community member states had become more aware of provisions under the EAC treaty which allow some members to expedite implementation of some projects. “Coalition of the willing is a thing of the past. It is not helpful to discuss it now (because) it was realized it was a misconception,” he told reporters in Dar es Salaam in a familiarization meeting with editors. “We came at a point that we understood that with EAC treaty there are provisions for some member states to accelerate implementation of some projects,” he said. Tension arose among the EAC member states as Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda were being seen to be fast-tracking implementation of some projects in the region and referred to themselves as the coalition of the willing. Tanzania and Burundi, were seen to be taking a more cautious approach on the integration progress. The three members of the willing had held high-level meetings to which other members did not attend sparking fears that Tanzania might eventually pull out of the community which were however calmed down by President Jakaya Kikwete in his rare address to Parliament in November 2013. President Kikwete explained that Tanzania was taking a more cautious approach and had stuck to principles in the process as agreed in the treaty....

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza submitted his papers to the electoral commission as international pressure continued to rise on him ahead of a regional emergency meeting in Dar es Salaam this week to try to resolve the political crisis. By Friday, only President Nkurunziza, who is seeking a third term in office on the ruling party CNDD-FDD’s ticket, and the opposition UPRONA candidate Gerald Nduwayo had submitted their papers to the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI). Another candidate, former rebel and FNL leader Agathon Rwasa, said he was still “considering submitting” his candidature by the Saturday, May 9 deadline. Other opposition leaders convened an emergency meeting ahead of the deadline. “So far we haven’t yet made any decision on whether or not to contest,” said Jean Minani, the chairman of FRODEBU Nyakuri. President Nkurunziza, whose decision to seek a third term in office has sparked violent protests in the country, has announced that, if elected, it would be his last term. Those opposed to his candidature accuse him of violating the country’s Constitution, which sets a two-term limit, while his party argues that he has been elected by universal suffrage only once, and thus qualifies to seek re-election. A ruling by the country’s Constitutional Court that President Nkurunziza is free to run for another term failed to end a second week of protests in which the death toll rose to over 12 and the number of refugees fleeing the country topped 50,000. UN Special Envoy to Burundi Said Djinnit called for...

The East African Community member states are delaying implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol, thus denying the bloc full integration, says the East African Legislative Assembly. “The biggest challenge is delays and commitment in harmonising national laws to fit with the requirements of the protocol,” said Peter Mathuki, Kenyan member of EALA and chair of the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges. “Partner states must co-operate on harmonising policies; they must also share information and experiences on how to regulate markets,” he added. Mr Mathuki said that, over the past seven years, reforms in the EAC have focused on simplifying regulatory processes. The establishment of the EAC Common Market Protocol is in line with the provisions of the EAC Treaty. It provides for “Four Freedoms:” The free movement of goods, labour, services, and capital. The plan is to implement the protocol established in 2010 progressively until December 31. According to a report by EALA, 63 measures out of 500 key sectoral laws and regulations of partner states have been identified by the committee as inconsistent with the Common Market Protocol. Seventy-three per cent of these are exclusively related to professional services. In terms of movement of capital, only two — external borrowing and repatriation of proceeds from sale of assets — out of 20 capital operations are free of restrictions in all partner states. Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) chairman Vimal Shah said that only when the protocol is fully implemented, the larger integrated market encourage more investment. According...

KAMPALA, Uganda - Uganda is hosting an inter-Africa Ease of Doing Business Initiative (EDBI) 2015 conference this week beginning tomorrow in Kampala. The overall aim is to share knowledge and experiences with an agenda to finding a lasting strategy to facilitate bigger and better business and investments in Africa. At the last EDBI which was hosted in Maputo, Mozambique, Uganda was selected to host this year’s conference after beating six other counties. Uganda was selected mainly because of its attractive business environment and the ongoing reforms in trading across borders, business licensing and registration, and the computerization of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and land registry. According to Carolyn Ndawula, a Program Manager, Trade and Competitiveness, the World Bank Group, the initiative is aimed at sharing knowledge and looking at loopholes in different governments that are hindering trade developments and finding solutions as a one strong continent. “We have members like Mauritius, and South Africa whose economies are growing into first world status. By meeting and sharing different experiences, I am convinced that different governments will benefit from this conference. As the World Bank, we are here to facilitate this conference in terms of finances and guidance. We look forward to receiving a bigger number of Ugandans who will participate in this conference for the betterment if our country,” Ndawula said The EDBI 2015 under the theme ‘Connecting the dots: How Public Reforms Improve the Ease of Doing Business’ will bring together over an estimated 300 participates including 100 government...