Transport at Malaba border point became paralysed on Monday after truck drivers from both Uganda and Kenya parked their vehicles, protesting what they described as exorbitant Covid-19 testing fees.
Uganda has imposed testing fees of Shs110,000 on each of the drivers, which test will be valid for seven days.
But the drivers said this is exorbitant considering that they ply the Uganda- Kenya route nearly five times a month.
“I thought the testing machines do the same thing. On the Kenyan side, testing is for free, but Ugandans are charging money. This is exploitation,” Westminster Kwemei, a truck driver, said.
“We will understand if someone has not been tested and is required to be tested, but why is it that we are still required to be tested yet we even have vaccination certificates. Vaccination was brought to reduce the cost of having tests done all the time,” Chrispinus Omose, another truck driver stated.
The chairman of the Uganda National Transport Alliance, Mr William Busuulwa, said such barriers are frustrating trade between the two countries.
“Our worry is that if these barriers continue, Kenyans will change the transport route to South Sudan. Kenyan government is currently constructing a road to South Sudan. If they decided to use that road because of such costs, Uganda will lose a lot in revenue and business,” he said.
But Mr Chodrey Okule, the head of Port Health Services at Malaba border, insisted the Covid tests.
“We have severally disapproved some drivers who come with Covid-19 negative results from the Kenyan side and when they are tested, they are found to be positive,” Mr Okule said.
Mr Duncan Kakonge, the URA eastern regional manager, said they are in talks with their Kenyan counterparts, who are engaging the leaders of the truck drivers to halt the protest.
On average, Malaba border handles 1300 trucks a day.