Export Food Products From Uganda: UEPB Registration (2026)

Many Ugandan farms, mills and processors can already sell locally and now want to export food products from Uganda. The first practical question is usually: who do we register with, and what papers does each shipment need? The Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) is the public body that facilitates and coordinates the promotion of Uganda's exports, and its portals set out the exporter registration process. Other agencies handle plant health and certificates of origin.

This guide walks through the sequence using the official UEPB pages, read in October 2026. Rules, forms and fees can change, so check each step with the agency named before you ship. We have not quoted any fee or timeline that an official page did not show with a date.

What UEPB does, and what it does not do

UEPB describes itself on its exporter portal as a public trade support institution whose role is to facilitate and coordinate the development and promotion of Uganda's exports. The portal offers an exporter readiness check and an online exporter registration process. UEPB is not the body that inspects your food or issues your health or plant papers; those come from other agencies, which are covered below.

UEPB exporter registration: the three steps

According to the portal, registering as an exporter has three stages:

Application. You fill in an online form for registering as an exporter. The page says it includes all assessment requirements.
Site visit. UEPB's team may come for a field visit to assess your eligibility as an exporter. The portal indicates this can happen more than once, depending on your products.
Completion. Once the requirements are met, UEPB gives a recommendation to the ministry.

The page does not state fees, eligibility criteria or processing times, so ask UEPB directly (the portal lists its contact details) before you plan. Use the exporter readiness check first if you are unsure whether your premises and documents are in order.

Is registration compulsory for every product?

It depends on the product and the buyer. UEPB's product page for dry beans says no special export permit or licence is required, and that importers may ask whether you are registered with UEPB when they carry out due diligence. It adds that the exporter must be incorporated in Uganda and hold a company registration number and a tax identification number. For other food products the position can differ, so check the page for your product or ask UEPB. Even where registration is not strictly required, many buyers like to see it, because it shows you are a known and assessed exporter.

Plant health: the phytosanitary certificate

For grains, pulses, oilseeds, spices and other plant-based foods, a phytosanitary certificate is a standard shipment document. UEPB's guide on obtaining a phytosanitary certificate says the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), through its Department of Crop Inspection and Certification, issues it. The one-time pre-export registration, as the page describes it, runs as follows:

Register with UEPB or the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI).
Obtain an introductory or recommendation letter to MAAIF.
Apply for registration with MAAIF's Crop Inspection and Certification Department.
Have your packhouse inspected by a MAAIF inspector.
Fix any non-conformities and request re-inspection.
Obtain an Export Number.

For each shipment you then apply to MAAIF for inspection, present the consignment for physical inspection, collect the certificate, and declare the goods and present your documents at the border. The page also says a fumigation certificate is needed before inspection where fumigation is prescribed, especially for grains, and that fumigation must be done by a MAAIF certified fumigator. For grains and tea, it says inspection is done in bulk rather than per consignment. Our guide to the phytosanitary certificate explains the concept for exporters across Africa.

Certificate of origin

If your buyer is in a country with a trade agreement with Uganda, a certificate of origin can unlock lower duty. The UEPB site carries a guide, how to obtain a certificate of origin, which describes the process run by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). It says first-time exporters register with URA using a registration form and then follow the registered-exporter steps, and that an electronic process via ASYCUDA World has been available since February 2017, requiring a tax registered user with a TIN. It also says Ugandan exporters can obtain up to seven preferential certificates, including EAC, COMESA, GSP Form A and EU certificates. The dry beans page adds that, depending on the destination, the certificate of origin is issued by UNCCI or URA. Confirm with URA which certificate fits your destination, because the guide is undated.

Product standards and labels for buyers

Registration gets you a seat at the table, but the buyer's quality checks decide the sale. The dry beans page gives a good example of what a UEPB product profile covers: the East African standard the beans must meet (EAS 46:2011), a maximum moisture limit, food-grade packaging, and a label that states the variety, grade, producer or exporter details, country of origin, storage instructions, crop year and packing date. It also advises exporters to confirm extra requirements with buyers, since shipments can be rejected even when statutory requirements are met. Apply the same discipline to any food you export. Our article on packaging, labelling and shelf life helps you build a label that buyers accept.

A simple checklist before the first shipment

Register the business and get a tax identification number.
Run the UEPB readiness check and complete exporter registration.
Register your packhouse with MAAIF if you ship plant products.
Agree specifications, packing and labelling with the buyer in writing.
Arrange fumigation, inspection and the phytosanitary certificate.
Prepare the commercial invoice and the right certificate of origin.
Check the buyer is real before you ship. Our guide to finding international buyers and spotting fake ones explains how.

Frequently asked questions

Who regulates export of food from Uganda? Several agencies are involved. UEPB handles exporter registration and promotion, MAAIF handles plant health certificates, and URA handles certificates of origin, according to the UEPB pages above.

Do I need a licence to export dry beans? UEPB's dry beans page says no special export permit or licence is required, but importers may ask whether you are registered with UEPB. Check the current position for your product.

How long does exporter registration take? The UEPB portal does not state a timeline. Ask UEPB.

What does a phytosanitary certificate cost? We have not quoted a fee because the UEPB guide does not carry a date. Ask MAAIF for the current charge.

Can Comilmart ship my goods? No. The seller arranges and pays for shipping and delivery. Comilmart does not handle freight, customs clearance or duties.

Next step

When your export paperwork is in place, a verified supplier profile helps buyers find and trust you. Apply at /apply-manufacturer. It is free, and the form asks for your company registration number, tax number, business licence and registration certificate, at least two sample product images and your company mission, vision and core values. Choose the B2B category that fits your products. Admin review is stated as taking about 24 to 48 hours. Buyers can also post requests at /request-quotation, which approved suppliers can answer from their RFQ board. For questions on plans or payment methods, use live chat or contact us, and always confirm export rules with UEPB, MAAIF and URA.