ByJoseph M. Mwangala

Project Manager - CBSEP

UNITED NATIONS

UNCTAD

ASYCUDA World Implementation at Uganda Revenue

Authority

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Introduction• ASYCUDA World is implemented by the Customs Business Systems

Enhancement Project (CBSEP), one of the projects under the Managing Compliance Program (MCP).

• ASYCUDA World implementation at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) started in August 2011 by the appointment of the National Project Team (CBSEP).

• In addition to the implementation of ASYCUDA World, the project team is also charged with implementing the following components:– Business Processes Review and Reengineering– The National Authorized Economic Operator Program– The Electronic Cargo Tracking System– Capacity Building

• The project team responsible for ASYCUDA WORLD has 21 (16 Business and 5 IT) full time members headed by a Project Manager

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Introduction• The project is Supported by a Customs Advisors and IT Consultant

from UNCTAD• The project is Funded by Trademark East Africa (TMEA) and the

Government of Uganda• The Project activities started in earnest in November, 2011 with the

signing of the implementation agreement between URA and UNCTAD.

• A phased approach was adopted for the implementation of ASYCUDA World.

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Project Status• National Project Team trained in Asycuda World Functional and

Technical (March, April 2012)• UNCTAD Advisors Arrive Uganda (June/July 2012)• ASYCUDA World Servers procured and installed at the Data Center

(August 2012)• ASYCUDA World was piloted at JINJA Customs station, an inland

Customs station, starting on the 26th November, 2012 until March 2013.

• The pilot strategy involved having all the transits to Jinja from the 4 key border stations (Malaba, Busia, Katuna and Mutukula) done in ASYCUDA World and the transits between those stations.

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Asycuda World Pilot Strategy

The National RolloutThe National rollout was phased as below:

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PHASE OFFICE(S) % OF DECLARATIONS

DATES

PHASE 1

Entebbe (CAPT &Cargo) 8% 8/4/2013 – 24/5/2013(6 weeks)

PHASE 2

Malaba, Busia, Mbale, Lwakhakha, Suam River, Katuna , Mutukula.

57% 27/5/2013 – 28/6/2013(5 weeks)

PHASE 3 Kampala 28% 15/07/2013 – 06/09/2013(8 weeks)

PHASE 4

Bunagana, Busunga, Cyanika, Mirama Hills, Kikagati, Kamwezi, Oraba,Vurra, Elegu, Arua, Goli, Paidha, Busitema, Kona Kamdin, Pakwach, Koboko, Lia, Lokung, Madi-Opei, Mbarara, Moyo, Mpondwe, Ntoroko, Kasese, Ishasha, Butiaba

7% 16/09/2013 –31/12/2013(14 weeks)

Lessons learnt• The importance of continuous stakeholder engagement• The importance of investing in good network connectivity

infrastructure• There is need to assess the existing equipment & infrastructure and

document all required inputs prior to project kick off. Realised late the need for extra computers, scanners country-wide!

• Procurement of all required inputs need to be started way ahead of implementation. We are yet to conclude the procurement of soClass licenses!

• There is need for upfront preparations: finances Publicity and sensitization Training

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Challenges• Data Migration from A++• Network - intermittent and inadequate connectivity• The need for stakeholders to procure computers & reliable

network equipment for their offices• The continued use of DTIs by our clearing agents due to lack of

resources• Change of staff mindsets• Project team skills/capacity – e.g. mapping processes,

reforming customs!• Installed/Implemented AW Asycuda World as is, before

conclusion of the BPR process. Need technical assistance to get this done properly.

• OGA capacity to meet the clearance requirements - in terms of hardware and staff

• What kind of technical expertise in Information Technology IT is needed?• Practical experience in Software development using Java• Knowledge in database management• Knowledge in implementing web services in Java

• What are the types of new facilities needed?• In addition to the live server upon which Asycuda world runs,

the following are needed:• A Test server is needed to test all modules before deployment

to the live server• A development server is needed for ode version management

and developer testing of the new modules.

ICT and Facilities Requirements

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• What are the requirements of ICT connectivity and hardware upgrades?• From our experience, an 8 MB internet connection is sufficient

for the Asycuda world server side. • Clients accessing the service externally require a network

connection with a minimum of 128 Kbps

ICT and Facilities Requirements

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• Part XVI of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 provides for the Application of IT in carrying out Customs formalities or procedures.

• There are no legal instruments governing the interaction between OGAs and customs. We intend to rely on MoUs between the semi-autonomous government bodies

Legislation requirements

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• Projects at URA are coordinated and supported by a Program Management Office under the MCP.

• Projects are headed by a Project Owner (PO) – The Commissioner Customs is the PO for the CBSEP

• Project staff are fully dedicated project team (business and IT) to manage the project

• The PMO manages and coordinates the capacity building activities • Also funds general project management trainings

Management and Training Support

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• The Project Change Team together with the Corporate Change Team and the Public and Corporate Affairs communication team, carried out stakeholder mapping and holds • awareness seminars• Sensitizations• radio and TV talk shows• use of social media – facebook, twitter, etc to sensitize stakeholders about the project

Stakeholder engagement

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What is the financing required for investment in new hardware, connectivity, telecoms upgrades?• From URA experience 3.56 Million USD was required for

hardware and licenses for both the primary and disaster recovery sites

• Network infrastructure in existence has a recurring cost 1M USD per Year with a standing backup link of the similar capacity and cost.

• What is the cost of running the program?The 3 year activities to cost about USD 7.9 Million

• BPR - 0.083• Asycuda World - 1.930• Capacity Building - 0.549• Document Processing Center - 1.268• National Targeting Center - 0.215• Hardware/equipment - 3.868

Financing Requirements

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• We have targeted OGAs who play a key part in trade facilitation at the borders. These include:• Uganda National Bureau of Standards• Uganda Coffee Development Authority• National Drugs Authority• Ministry of Agriculture• Ministry of Health• Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Currently piloting with 2 OGAs; UNBS and UCDA• The OGAs have set their own selectivity criteria

eSW related functionalities

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