Universal Postal Union
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is an organ of the United Nations, which was established in 1874 to secure improvements of postal services, promote the development of international collaboration and undertake, as far as possible, technical assistance in postal matters requested by member’s countries. It sets the rules for international exchanges of postal articles and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel and financial services volumes and improve quality of service for customers.
Uganda became a member of UPU in 1901 and has served as part of the organisation – the Council of Administration (CA) twice i.e 2012-2016 and 2016-2020 cycle. The Council of Administration (CA) consists of 41 member countries and meets annually at UPU headquarters in Berne. The Council ensures the continuity of the UPU's work between Congresses, supervises its activities and studies regulatory, administrative, legislative and legal issues. To ensure that the UPU is able to react quickly to changes in the postal environment, the CA has the power to approve proposals by the Postal Operations Council for the adoption of regulations or new procedures until the next Congress. The Universal Postal Congress convenes every four years. The CA can also take measures it considers necessary to resolve urgent issues. It approves the UPU's biennial budget and accounts, as well as yearly updates on the UPU's strategy and budget. The Council is also responsible for promoting and coordinating all aspects of technical assistance among member countries.
Uganda has also enjoyed the support of UPU on different projects such as: National Post Code and Addressing system project, Purchase of a stamp cancelling machine, purchase of mail delivery vans and motorcycles, purchase and installation of an x-ray scanning machine, Post office automation through the extension of International Postal System (IPS) to 48 offices, purchase and installation of CCTV cameras at the General Post Office and installation of the Global Monitoring System to monitor ordinary mail Quality of Service.
PAPU
The Pan African Postal Union (PAPU), a specialized agency of the African Union (AU) was established on 18th January, 1980 and has its Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. PAPU whose membership consisted of only 35 countries when it was created, currently has 45 Member States of which Uganda is a member and has served on the Council of Administrations three times i.e. (2000-2008, 2013-2016, 2016-2020).
The main objective of forming the Union is to coordinate all activities aimed at developing postal services on the African continent. Uganda has benefited from the union mainly through trainings and capacity building programmes such as the UPU Quality of Service Certification project, Key Account Management among others.
EACO
East African Communications Organization (EACO) is the regional body that unites communications regulators and operators across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and now South Sudan. The scope of work of EACO includes the postal sub-sector.
Hyperlink to the Postal Assemblies documents
The National Postal Working Group
In May 2017, UCC established a National Postal Working Group (NPWG) to provide advice and recommendations to Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) on how to develop postal services in Uganda and on the issues considered by regional and international organisations in relation to the postal industry. The major objectives of the working group are to;
- Support improvements in quality of service
- Promote fair competition within the postal sector
- Foster stakeholder engagement with the wider players in the economy
Participation in the working group is open to all stakeholders of the postal industry in Uganda. The terms of reference of the NPWG are in the document below.
The national postal working group Terms of reference