Trade Mark East Africa wins presidential award

Second Deputy Premier Kirunda Kivejinja hands over the award to Moses Sabiiti, TMEA Uganda Country Director. Photo by Mary Kansiime

Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) has been awarded a certificate of special recognition by President Yoweri Museveni at the annual visionaries of Uganda awards following the organization's work in Uganda. 

This is a Presidential initiative which recognizes investors, private sector and donor institutions whose work has had a transformative social-economic impact on the people of Uganda.  TMEA was recognized for best contribution to infrastructure and trade facilitation.

Since the TMEA programs began in Uganda - working closely with the ministry of works and transport waiting times for trucks on border posts have been reduced by up to 70% after one-stop custom mechanisms were introduced, therefore eliminating the need for customs checks on both sides of the border.

Uganda Revenue Authority has seen a 48% increase in tax revenues, after moving to a 24hour web-based processing customs system. The move has also led to processing time being reduced by 30% from 120 hours to 84 hours.

Frank Matsaert, Trade Mark East Africa boss, commented on receiving the award: "The work we undertake at TMEA across Uganda has significantly reduced the cost and time of doing business in the country and has made a tangible difference to the lives of Ugandans. We are grateful to be recognised. We look forward to maintaining our excellent relationship with the Government of Uganda and reaffirm our commitment to the development of the Ugandan economy".

Moses Sabiiti, TMEA Uganda Country Director, noted that "the British Government, through its Department for International Development (DFID), has funded a large portion of the program's infrastructure budget.

This, he remarked, has enabled TMEA to engage with implementing partners and expedite on key infrastructure projects like One Stop Border Posts and Mirama Hills Road, bringing their completion time forward by up to 3 years, as compared to other similar projects elsewhere in the region." 

The award followed the outcome of an independent evaluation which concluded that TMEA's Uganda programs directly contributed to inducing additional trade worth $97m.