Overview:
However, Kadaga said a lot still had to be done, and condemned the practice of closing borders as hurting the business community and the innocent citizens.
East African Community leaders have expressed optimism that the good relations between Kenyan President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni will continue to ease trade restrictions between the two countries.
Speaking on Friday during a retreat of the East African Business Community (EABC) Board, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga hailed the two leaders for the step forward but urged their country’s other political leaders to embrace regional integration.
Since his inauguration in September last year, Ruto has reversed several of his predecessor’s policies, including lifting restrictions on imports from Uganda mainly dairy, poultry and sugar products.
However, Kadaga said a lot still had to be done, and condemned the practice of closing borders as hurting the business community and the innocent citizens.
She also regretted that the traders at the Uganda-Rwanda border had got hope after Kigali announced the reopening of the border, only for its dispute with DR Congo to escalate.
EABC Chairperson Angelina Ngalula appealed to Kadaga to press the EAC to finalise harmonisation of product standards because countries were using the issue of standards to protect their own interests, which they said was wrong.
Kadaga urged the EABC to support women cross-border traders and SMEs by raising their awareness about trade procedures and opportunities in the EAC bloc.
Apart from unfavourable trade policies, small traders are not aware even of the laws that are meant to protect them, for example, the traders smuggle goods worth less than 2000 dollars (seven million shillings) yet by law they are not supposed to be taxes.
She also condemned the pioneer member-countries of EAC for not leading the way in eliminating trade barriers, giving the example of Tanzania that insists on a passport instead of a national identity card.
Kadaga also called for the operationalisation of the Trade Remedies Committee, wondering why the EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki has remained silent about it despite nudging from the ministers and the business community.
Kadaga also officially inaugurated the newly appointed EABC Goodwill Ambassadors from Uganda namely; Jim Mwine Kabeho, Dr. Merian Sebunya, Olive Kigongo and Charles Kabera.
She advised the board of the East African Business Council to lobby for the political confederation of the EAC as a lasting solution to the Non-tariff Barriers.