Uganda’s Horticulture Sector Advances with CICS/RUSH System Rollout to Boost Export Efficiency and Compliance
MAAIF Commissioner, Dr. Mwambu flanked by Dr. Nankinga, Hossain Arafat and Fred Zake marking the official launch of the event.
Uganda’s fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV) sector has reached a critical milestone with the recent rollout of the CICS/RUSH (CROP INSPECTION & CERTIFICATION SYSTEM) system, which aims to streamline documentation, enhance traceability, and strengthen compliance with international standards. This innovative system, launched in collaboration with SwissContact and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), is set to address longstanding issues in Uganda’s FFV export sector, such as shipment interceptions and export delays.
Dr. Mwambu, Uganda’s NPPO (National Plant Protection Organization) Commissioner, acknowledged the critical role played by key stakeholders in the horticulture industry, emphasizing their collaboration as instrumental to the successful adoption of the CICS/RUSH system. He highlighted the importance of such initiatives in bolstering Uganda’s export market, noting that stakeholder engagement remains crucial in aligning the sector with international quality and safety standards.
Fred Zake, Executive Director of Hortifresh Association—the umbrella association for Uganda’s fresh fruits and vegetables sector—emphasized the importance of this new system. “Globally, digital solutions reduce the time and costs associated with regulatory compliance,” Zake remarked. “This platform enables inspectors to maintain the high standards crucial for Uganda’s access to high-value export markets,” he added.
The final training session, before the rollout of the system, offered an overview of the system’s functionalities, enabling participants to deepen their understanding of key processes like product data entry, quality checks, and export documentation management. It also provided a platform for discussing and resolving specific challenges faced by exporters and quality controllers, emphasizing problem-solving and enhancing user skills. Additionally, the session equipped participants for the complete rollout of CICS/RUSH, supporting Uganda’s FFV sector in its efforts to expand into high-value markets.
The impact of the CICS/RUSH system is expected to be transformative, bringing traceability, compliance, and efficiency to Uganda’s horticulture export sector. By digitizing critical procedures, the system ensures that product quality is documented, tracked, and verified in real time, allowing exporters to meet the high standards required in international markets. This capability is essential for minimizing export rejections, maintaining quality assurance, and ultimately enhancing Uganda’s competitiveness.
Kevin Kusiima
