This archive report was first published on 25 August 2021.
Kenya has cut sugar imports from Uganda by 79 percent, a move that is likely to escalate the ongoing trade dispute between Nairobi and Kampala.
According to the Sugar Directorate, traders will only be allowed to import 18,923 tonnes of sugar from Uganda, down from 90,000 tonnes that Kenya had earlier agreed to import from its landlocked neighbour.
The decision comes after Kenya's Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina and her Ugandan counterpart agreed in April that Uganda would be allowed to export 90,000 tonnes of sugar to Kenya once a verification mission on the country of origin was completed.
However, in a revised quota published this week, countries from the Southern Africa region will account for the largest share of imports under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) window.
eSwatini will lead the pack with 68,959 tonnes, followed by Zambia at 41,152 tonnes and Mauritius at 36,036 tonnes.
Uganda had been allowed to export surplus sugar to Kenya three years ago, but the implementation was delayed until late last year when 20,000 tonnes of the 90,000 tonnes surplus were shipped in.
Kenya has been at loggerheads with Uganda over sugar imports, with local producers arguing that the commodity coming from the landlocked neighbour originates from third-party countries.
Thursday, August 26, 2021
By GERALD ANDAE
