Authorities in Uganda and Kenya have agreed on a framework aimed at speeding up the movement of goods and other cargo across the borders of the two countries.
This follows a meeting between Uganda’s Works minister Gen Katumba Wamala and his Kenyan counterpart Transport minister James Macharia.
The measures, which are to be adopted by both Uganda Revenue Authority and Kenya Revenue Authority, are that both tax bodies increase staff at entry points into Uganda to 5 and 4 per 8 hour shift respectively.
The Kenya Tax body was requested, with immediate effect, to suspend scanning of trucks to Uganda at Malaba one stop border point until the crisis is managed.
In order to reduce on the backlog, the ministers agreed that Kenya Revenue Authority allow more export traffic inflow into Uganda and reduce on their imports using a phased manner by both tax bodies.
Uganda Revenue Authority was ordered to direct all empty trucks and trucks for perishables of less than 7 tonnes to pass through Lwakhakha.
On Uganda’s part, URA suspended verification at its cargo station yard and forwarded such trucks to DOJ and JOJ bonds in Malaba, and Busia millers in Busia.
In terms of security along the Mombasa-Kampala highway, Uganda and Kenya security agencies were asked to reduce on security checks along this route to facilitate quick movement of trucks conveying cargo in both countries.
Further, the ministers also agreed on new strategic operations and collaboration between the Uganda road authority and Kenya highway authority to ease movement of cargo, a move which has been highly welcome by transporters and truckers.
Cargo started piling up at the border when truckers protested what they termed as “double testing of Covid-19” imposed by Ugandan Authorities.
This eventually affected fuel prices in Uganda.