This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
On August 19, 2019, Uganda's Minister of Trade, Amelia Kyambadde, emphasized the need for a more efficient system of moving cargo to reduce costs on goods across East Africa.
The Minister pointed out that delays in scanning cargo, verification, and overstay at container freight stations, as well as corruption, account for more than 20 per cent of losses in Uganda's traded goods.
Speaking at the third Trade and Business Facilitation Symposium in Mombasa, Ms Kyambadde noted that over 82 per cent of Uganda's imports pass through the Port of Mombasa, making it essential to address logistics inefficiencies.
She estimated that these inefficiencies cost the Uganda business community and government $827 million every year.
Ms Kyambadde also expressed concerns over non-tariff barriers, poor enforcement of policies, insufficient information, and undefined taxes, which continue to hinder trade across East Africa.
Kenya's High Commissioner to Uganda, Kiema Kilonzo, attributed the frustration of business people to officers on the ground, who he said were not doing enough to facilitate trade.
Mr Kilonzo announced that Kenya would be running its own inland container depot in Naivasha by the end of the year, which he hoped would encourage Uganda to increase its use of the Port of Mombasa.
