By Taxman Team
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, sovereign governments across the globe have had to unlearn, learn and relearn in order to adapt to what is now commonly referred to as the ‘new normal.’ Since 18th March 2020 when Uganda instituted its first lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, the entire country has been battling with the effects of this deadly global pandemic. Businesses were disrupted, shops were closed, entire supply chains were brought to a standstill as importers and exporters across the region were sent into a commercial whirlwind of epic proportions.
Statistics from the Central Bank of Uganda and Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives reveal that imports and exports (values & volumes) have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Ugandan exports have declined from USD 383.62m in January 2020 to USD 352.91m in June 2020. Similarly, the imports declined from USD 711.99m in January 2020 to USD 593.79m in June2020.
As a result of these unprecedented changes, the East African Secretariat and its partner states unveiled a new mobile application called the Regional Electronic Cargo and Driver Tracking System (RECDTS) that enables the issuance of EAC COVID-19 test results that are jointly recognized.
RECDTS combines both a mobile (driver’s app) and web application that provides a trust infrastructure through which health authorities in the region can monitor driver’s compliance to health requirements and regulations related to COVID-19. The system allows for advance sharing of valid digital attestation letters with relevant health authorities. Through the system, authorities will have prior digital attestation letters shared with concerned personnel to facilitate clearance of drivers at border points. Additionally, through the driver’s app, health officials can validate drivers and crew compliance to health regulations as they move along the major transit routes.
It also provides a surveillance system to monitor long-distance trucker’s crew health and supports contact tracing. The Application and its related services are free, however, internet connectivity is required to utilize it.
RECDTS will expedite faster movement of compliant drivers and reduce congestion at the borders. It will ensure that partner states are able to electronically share truck drivers’ COVID-19 test results in a faster efficient way. This will significantly reduce the amount of time spent on the road as a result of stops for COVID-19 tests.
At the roll out of RECDTS earlier this month, the EU ambassador to Kenya H.E Simon Mordue said “The RECDTS platform is a paramount common approach to tackling the threat of Corona Virus to the East African Community’s economy. It enables several ministries of health in the region to work together in stemming the spread of the virus across borders.”
Ambassador Mordue also noted that the RECDTS will provide an efficient, transparent and accessible way to support the formal trade across the EAC borders and will help in sustaining the EAC economies now and in the near future.
The application will also enhance trust and cooperation between cross border governments, agencies, and private sector, and therefore limit disruption of movement of goods across borders. Reduced transmissions and stigmatization against truck drivers along transit corridors will also be an advantage. RECDTS is also projected to reduce operational costs to transport companies due to measures introduced to control spread of COVID-19.
The EAC was able to develop the app with funding from European Union, Global Affairs Canada, DANIDA, Finland, Netherlands and United Kingdom through Trademark East Africa and in accordance with the directive given by the 1st Joint Ministerial meeting of EAC ministers responsible for Health and EAC Affairs.
If we have learnt anything from this global pandemic, it is that now more than ever we need to work together as a region to facilitate trade, eliminate non-tariff barriers and promote health and safety of persons and property.
