This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
Published on July 26, 2019, a truck bearing Ugandan registration number plates was spotted near Nambale Boys High School on July 24, 2019.
Cane farmers in Busia have raised a red flag over the smuggling of sugarcane into the country by local factories.
According to the farmers, a local sugar factory has resorted to importing the crop from Uganda through the porous Busia border.
The crop is allegedly smuggled during the day through Buteba and Alupe in Teso South constituency.
Kenya Association of Sugarcane and Allied Product (Kasap) National General Secretary Peter Odima and Busia Outgrowers Company director Lambert Okisai have petitioned the police to act.
Odima stated that the cane coming into the country must pass through the One Stop Border Post and get scrutinized by officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the police, and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis).
"We suspect due process is not being followed by the miller when bringing in the sugarcane," Odima said.
He added, "It is shocking that the vice is being conducted during the day and no arrests have been made."
Busia Outgrowers Company director Lambert Okisai said they are not against importation of cane from Uganda, but there is a need for millers to follow procedure.
"We are seeing early signs of betrayal by our sugar mills, chances of contraband being parked together with sugarcane are high," Okisai said.
On Wednesday, KRA officers and others from Kephis, as well as security law enforcement agencies, engaged in a cut and mouse chase.
Also involved were drivers of the trailers bearing Ugandan plates suspected to be carrying canes from across the border.
The driver of one of the trailers loaded with canes parked the truck near Nambale Boys High School on Wednesday to evade arrest.
The police officers from Nambale station later escorted the trailer to the precinct of the sugar factory.
