Last checked: October 2026. Rules and rates change. This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice.
Uganda checks the quality of many imported goods before they leave the exporting country. The programme is called Pre-Export Verification of Conformity, or PVoC, and it is run by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
What the rule is
Goods covered by a compulsory Uganda standard must be inspected in the country of export. If they pass, an inspection company appointed by UNBS issues a Certificate of Conformity. Customs asks for this certificate when the goods arrive.
- The certificate is issued before shipment, in India, for goods coming from India.
- Each certificate covers one shipment and is valid for three months.
- Appointed inspection companies include SGS, Intertek and TÜV Rheinland.
- Requests for goods from India go through the Uganda Electronic Single Window.
Which goods are covered
The regulated groups include electrical and electronic goods, automotive products, chemicals and cosmetics, food, furniture, mechanical and gas appliances, paper and stationery, protective equipment, textiles, leather, plastic and rubber goods, toys and used products.
That covers most of what Indhows sources: electronics, electricals, kitchen appliances, textiles and vehicles.
Small shipments
A consignment with a value under US$2,000 FOB is exempt from pre-export inspection. UNBS inspects it on arrival in Uganda instead.
What it costs
The inspection fee is a percentage of the FOB value of the goods, with a minimum and a maximum.
| Route | Who it is for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| A | Occasional shipments from an unregistered supplier | 0.50% |
| B | Regular shipments from a registered supplier | 0.45% |
| C | Certified products | 0.25% |
| D | Consolidated or groupage cargo | 0.50% |
The minimum fee is US$235 and the maximum is US$3,000 per shipment. Laboratory tests are charged separately.
Documents the inspector asks for
- A request for certification
- The proforma invoice, then the final invoice
- The packing list
- Product specifications or datasheets
- Test reports from an accredited laboratory
- The seller's declaration that the product complies
If goods arrive without a certificate
The importer pays a penalty of 15% of the CIF value and UNBS inspects the goods at destination. Goods that fail are sent back or destroyed at the trader's expense.
How Indhows handles this. Your product report says whether your goods are covered. We collect the supplier's test reports, book the inspection in India and send you the certificate with your shipping papers. Book a call to start.