Stronger customs and trade facilitation can make Uganda’s trade more efficient and competitive.
Uganda’s ambition to become a competitive East African trading hub depends on efficient, predictable and transparent movement of goods. However, the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) shows a decline in Uganda’s Customs score, from 2.97 in 2016 to 2.20 in 2023, with the country ranking 111th globally in Customs and 109th overall in 2023. This highlights the need to strengthen trade facilitation and cross-border efficiency.
BeezyLCL uses digital technology to bridge information and coordination gaps among traders, consolidators, and clearing agents, improving shipment visibility, compliance, and coordination for a more efficient and transparent trading environment.
Compliance should be viewed as a shared interest across the trade ecosystem, supported by accurate information, complete documentation and better coordination. Technology can strengthen this process by improving visibility, reducing delays and supporting efficient workflows, provided digital solutions are designed around the actual needs of traders and other stakeholders.
The LPI is more than a measure of rankings; it provides an opportunity to examine the real experience of businesses engaged in trade. Beyond the numbers, attention should focus on the predictability of clearance processes, access to accurate information, coordination among stakeholders, the costs created by information gaps, and the speed at which challenges are identified and resolved. Ultimately, the goal should be to use data and technology to simplify trade processes, improve coordination and create a more efficient and predictable trading environment.
Uganda’s logistics competitiveness will increasingly depend on how effectively it combines physical infrastructure, digital systems, institutional coordination and reliable information flows. The decline in the LPI Customs score from 2.97 in 2016 to 2.20 in 2023 should therefore be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen connectivity across the trade ecosystem. By improving information sharing, visibility, compliance and coordination, Uganda can create trade processes that are more predictable, transparent and efficient.
Uganda’s trade competitiveness will increasingly depend on connected systems, better information and stronger coordination, with solutions such as BeezyLCL helping enable more efficient and predictable trade.