Customs agent licensing in Uganda

Who licenses customs agents in Uganda

URA cites section 145(1) of the EAC Customs Management Act, 2004, which says the Commissioner may license persons to act as agents ⁴. Operating or claiming to be a customs agent without a licence is an offence under regulation 152 of the 2010 Regulations ⁴.

URA says clearing agents are needed for declaring or clearing goods, except accompanied, non-manifested personal baggage of air or land travellers ⁴. Owners must appoint an agent in writing. Agents are personally liable for their acts and for taxes due, and owners remain liable for their agents' acts ⁴.

The 2026 licensing round

URA invited new and renewal applications for 2026 licences in a notice dated 22 August 2025, with an addendum dated 16 September 2025 ^1,2. Applicants submit Form C20 with licensing conditions and assessment forms through the Electronic Single Window at singlewindow.go.ug ¹. Authorised Economic Operator companies apply only for automatic renewal, subject to paying the fees ¹. Neither notice states fee or bond amounts ^1,2.

Requirements and fees

A URA guide for financial year 2020/21 lists the requirements below ³. The 2026 notices refer applicants to the licensing conditions on the Single Window ¹.

The guide sets no bond for the licence itself. It says an agent cannot handle transit consignments until it provides a bank guarantee and shows financial capacity ³. Renewal is not automatic. Only Authorised Economic Operators get automatic renewal ³.

• Completed Form C.20 with a US$50 application fee ³.
• A US$400 annual licence fee, payable on approval ³.
• An office equipped to ASYCUDA World end user specifications ³.
• Incorporation documents, memorandum and articles of association, a sample letterhead and stamp, and bank details ³.
• Tax compliance for the firm, directors, shareholders and employees, with a tax clearance certificate ³.
• At least two clearing employees with a diploma or certificate in customs clearing and forwarding from a recognised institute or the EACFFPC ³.
• Membership of a recognised clearing and forwarding association ³.
• No shareholder, director or employee with an interest in more than one clearing company ³.
• Practical and written competence assessments for declaration staff ³.

ASYCUDA World and the Single Window

ASYCUDA World is URA's online system for processing customs transactions on imports and exports. Users log in at asyworld.ura.go.ug ⁵. User rights need a form signed by the company's chief executive and approved by a customs station manager ⁵.

Passwords expire after about 90 days. URA says sharing passwords can lead to criminal charges or suspension of company operations ⁵. If payment due on a declaration is not made within the set period, the importer's TIN is suspended ⁵.

URA describes ASYCUDA World as a computerised global customs management system. It says the Uganda Electronic Single Window works by interfacing with it ⁶.

Training and associations

URA describes the EACFFPC as a 10-month course in two semesters ⁷. For the January 2024 intake it listed tuition of UGX 1,500,000, registration of US$150 and a field study fee of UGX 1,000,000 ⁷.

The Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA) describes itself as an umbrella association of transport and freight logistics companies in Uganda. It is a member of FEAFFA, FIATA and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda ⁸. FEAFFA lists UFFA among its seven member associations ⁹.

A 2015 evaluation for TradeMark East Africa names two Ugandan associations in the practising certificate programme, the Uganda Clearing Industry and Freight Forwarding Association (UCIFA) and UFFA. It names the URA Training School as the revenue authority training institute ¹⁰.