NCTTCA Launches Mobile-Based Data Collection Initiative to Boost Agricultural Trade

Empowering Cross-Border Trade: NCTTCA Launches Mobile-Based Data Collection Initiative to Boost Agricultural Trade

Kampala, Uganda – June 13, 2025
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance trade facilitation and boost intra-regional commerce, the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) has launched a targeted initiative to promote cross-border trade, with a focus on agricultural activities primarily undertaken by women and youth.

At the heart of this initiative is the Northern Corridor Business Information Portal (NCBIP), a digital platform designed to connect business stakeholders and improve access to market information. A key feature of the portal is a dedicated section for agricultural commodity price data, sourced directly from selected border markets. To support real-time and accurate data collection, the Secretariat has developed a Mobile Application that is seamlessly integrated with the portal.

In collaboration with border market and cross-border trader associations, the NCTTCA Secretariat selected and trained a cohort of enumerators to collect and upload price data from ten strategic border points across its six member states. These include:

• Busia (Kenya and Uganda)
• Malaba (Kenya and Uganda)
• Elegu (Uganda)
• Nimule (South Sudan)
• Katuna (Uganda) and Gatuna (Rwanda)
• Gatumba (Burundi)
• Kavinvira/Uvira (Democratic Republic of Congo)

To equip the enumerators with the necessary skills, NCTTCA organized a two-day training workshop from 11th to 12th June 2025 in Kampala, Republic of Uganda. The workshop focused on the use of the mobile application, data collection methodologies, and basic data analysis. Additionally, each enumerator was provided with a smartphone preloaded with the application to facilitate their work in the field.

The training was led by experts from the NCTTCA Secretariat, including the IT Specialist and the Deputy Director of the Private Sector Investment Promotion (PSIP) Unit, with technical support from Webspace – the consulting firm behind the portal and mobile app development.

As part of the onboarding process, guidelines for the use of the Mobile Application and management of the provided tools were officially signed by the enumerators and the Deputy Director PSIP on behalf of their respective institutions.

To ensure the sustainability of this data-driven initiative, it is recommended that the NCTTCA Secretariat provide regular data tokens or internet allowances to the enumerators to support continued use of the mobile application. The program also envisions a future rollout of data collection activities to additional key border points along the Northern Corridor.

This digital innovation marks a significant step in empowering local traders—especially women and youth—with timely market information, while strengthening data-driven decision-making across the region.

For media inquiries, contact:
The NCBIP Management team
Email: ncbip@ncttca.org
Website: www.ncbip.org