Overview:
Truck drivers at the Busia border report 24-hour delays caused by aging scanners and narrow roads, threatening international trade and increasing costs for Ugandan exporters.
BUSIA — A persistent gridlock at the Busia border crossing has forced truck drivers into 24-hour queues, stalling international trade and threatening the viability of Uganda’s export business.
Drivers and trade officials say the congestion is inflating transport costs, disrupting delivery schedules and jeopardizing perishable goods. Lamek Musete, a Kenyan driver transporting tiles from Nakaseke District to Nairobi, said he has spent more than 24 hours waiting to cross into Kenya.
The importers have been calling since yesterday, Musete said. By now I should have already delivered the goods.
The delays are reportedly driven by aging scanners at the Kenya Revenue Authority, narrow roads and allegations of corruption. Under the One Stop Border Post arrangement, a truck is intended to clear customs in 15 minutes, but current wait times range from 12 to 24 hours, according to Godfrey Oundo Ongwabe, chairperson of National Cross-Border Trade.
The inefficiency is particularly risky for exporters of pineapples and other perishable produce. James Peter Omaikol, who transports clinker to Tororo Cement, said the congestion has reduced his weekly capacity from three trips to two.
Drivers also reported rising insecurity and theft along the congested stretch. Some truckers alleged that corruption among border officials allows tanker drivers to skip the queue for a fee of 30,000 shillings, further delaying those who refuse to pay.
The gridlock has also paralyzed local commerce within Busia. Trucks often block access to shops and boda boda routes, leading to an increase in traffic accidents.
Johnson Wafuba, deputy town clerk of Busia Municipal Council, said the Ministry of Works is currently working to widen the road into a dual carriageway to separate traffic flows. Local authorities are also exploring alternative routes through Dabani and Busitema, as well as new entry points at Mulwadda and Buteba, to alleviate the pressure on the main crossing.