Postal FAQ
1. What are the requirements for operating a postal/courier firm in Uganda?
Any applicant for Postal / Courier Operator's licence is required to produce
the following to the Commission:
- Company profile (including certified photocopies of the Certificate of Registration / Incorporation and Memorandum of Association);
- Business Plan (including service description and objectives);
- A photocopy of the insurance policy for the Company.
2. What are the current postal/courier application and license fees?
The current postal/courier license fees are:--
| Category of Service | fees |
|---|---|
| Domestic |
|
| Regional |
|
| International |
|
3. How many firms are licensed to opearte postal/courier services in Uganda?
Have a look at the list of licensed postal/courier service providers in Uganda.
4. What are courier services?
TThese are services specialised for the collection, dispatch, conveyance, and delivery of postal articles. Within the context of the Uganda Communications Act (1997), and the licences issued to courier operators, such articles exclude letters weighing up to 350 kg.
5. What are universal postal services?
These are quality basic postal services accessible to all inhabitants at affordable prices. In this respect, UPL's mission is "to provide efficient, competitive, viable, and customer-oriented postal services at affordable charges".
6. What are reserved postal services?
These are postal services over which the National Operator has exclusive rights as one way of defraying the costs incurred in carrying out the Universal Service obligation. They include the delivery of letters up to 350gm, issue of postage stamps, pre-stamped envelopes, aerogramme forms, International Reply Coupons, and the Private letter-boxes services.
7. What are the 'mandatory' postal services?
It is a requirement in the Major Operator's Licence for the licensee (UPL) to accept, convey and deliver all postal articles weighing up to 10 kg countrywide. Mandatory Services also include Remittance and Philatelic services.
8. What are the postal license conditions?
These are conditions attached to an Operator's Licence and are to be
met in order for the licence to remain in force or be renewed. These
include but are not limited to the following:
- Payment of the appropriate licence fees prescribed by the Commission;
- Operating from a permanent address registered with the Commission;
- The requirement for the licensee to meet the minimum service quality standards;
- The obligation to charge the appropriate tariffs by the National operator;
- The requirement for the licensee to observe confidentiality and protection of postal articles;
- The requirement for the licensee to submit to the Commission such information and returns as may be required to carry out the Commission's functions.
9. What is a postal article?
The term includes any letter, postcard, newspaper, book, document, pamphlet, pattern, sample packet, small packet, parcel package, or o ther article tendered for dispatch or specified in the Universal Postal Union or in the licence of an operator.
10. What are the current postal article delivery times?
These are minimum postal service quality standards set by the UPU and / or the Commission to be met by a postal operator. The mail delivery standards set under the current Major Operator's Licence issued to UPL are as follows:
| Mail Posted Before Noon | Expected Delivery Time (i.e. No. of hrs after time of posting) |
|---|---|
| For delivery within the same Head Post Office area | 24 |
| For delivery from a Head Post Office to all Departmental Post Offices within the same postal region | 12 |
| For delivery between a Departmental Post Office (DPO) and a Postal Agency in the same DPO area | 24 |
| Delivery between the Kampala GPO and any other Head Post Office | 8 |
| International mail | Same as local after clearance from the international port of entry (e.g. Airport) |
These standards are periodically reviewed by the Commission as provided for in the said licence.