UNBS launches new imports e-portal to streamline inspections

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has officially launched a new electronic imports portal (e-Portal), designed to streamline the inspection process and significantly reduce clearance times for imported goods.

This digital shift aims to address persistent inefficiencies in Uganda’s trade logistics system. According to a 2022 World Bank report on African trade, delays in customs procedures cost Ugandan importers up to 15 percent in operational losses—mainly due to protracted clearance timelines and poor coordination among border agencies.

The newly introduced imports e-Portal is a web-based platform fully integrated with the Uganda Revenue Authority’s Asycuda World system. This integration allows for seamless processing of import documentation, real-time tracking of consignments, and automation of key functions such as fee payments and certificate issuance.

With this automation, UNBS can now issue Import Clearance Certificates (ICC) and manage inspection fees without manual intervention, thereby improving transparency and boosting operational efficiency. The e-Portal is accessible via the UNBS website, URA’s Asycuda World system, or directly at https://eportal.unbs.go.ug.

In line with the UNBS Inspection and Clearance of Imports Regulation, 2022, all imported goods covered under compulsory standards must undergo mandatory inspection. Once inspected and found compliant, goods are cleared through the issuance of an Import Clearance Certificate, allowing them to exit customs-controlled areas.

Speaking on the development, Eng. James Kasigwa, Executive Director at UNBS, emphasized that under the new system, consignments accompanied by valid Certificates of Conformity (CoC) and Certificates of Road Worthiness (CRW) will be cleared without delay.

“The system has been redesigned to automatically generate the Import Inspection Clearance Certificate (ICC) immediately after inspection is completed. This advancement ensures faster clearance and a significant reduction in turnaround time,” Eng. Kasigwa noted.

The portal’s user dashboard allows importers to monitor transaction progress and view all associated fees in real time, enhancing transparency and accountability.

Moreover, the system streamlines the management of PVoC (Pre-Export Verification of Conformity) exemption requests, seizure handling, and laboratory sample submissions. Clients can now submit exemption requests and track laboratory testing of import samples via a dedicated mobile application, allowing for quicker approvals and status updates.

This innovation is expected to benefit both importers and regulatory bodies by offering better visibility into transaction timelines, thus preventing unnecessary delays and cutting costs associated with prolonged cargo handling.

Additionally, the portal boasts enhanced cybersecurity features, improved audit trails, and detailed reporting capabilities. These measures will strengthen data integrity, minimize fraud, and support evidence-based decision-making within Uganda’s import regulatory framework.

Summary of Key Benefits:

• Faster Clearance: Automation of ICC issuance post-inspection
• Greater Transparency: Real-time dashboard for importers to track fees and progress
• Efficiency Gains: Integrated lab sample tracking and mobile app for exemptions
• Cost Reduction: Reduced delays lower operational expenses
• Data Security & Reporting: Improved system auditing and cybersecurity