Uganda's neglected port infrastructure and delayed development projects are impeding regional trade on Lake Victoria, with Kenya and Tanzania highlighting the need for urgent action to unlock the lake's $60 billion economic potential.
Port Bell, which handles 2,000-tonne cargo, faces operational challenges including a lack of shunting locomotives, insufficient lighting, and a derelict ship obstructing navigation. These issues cause frequent delays for ferries transporting goods between Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, according to Captain William Ruto, general manager of Kenya's Kisumu Port.
"Importers and exporters demand efficiency," Ruto stated, emphasizing how Uganda's port inefficiencies disrupt regional logistics. The Kisumu Port, which Kenya invested $7 million to upgrade starting in 2018, remains dependent on complementary infrastructure in Uganda, including a fuel jetty that has yet to meet its January 2021 completion deadline.
Kenya's $30 million investment in the MV Uhuru ferry and $500,000 for port refurbishments have not yet yielded full returns due to Uganda's delays. The stalled Bukasa Port project, intended to accommodate larger vessels, further complicates regional trade plans. Tanzania's Mwanza port, which handles 1,065 tonnes of fish daily, remains underutilized despite its strategic location.
Regional maritime rankings reveal Kisumu as Lake Victoria's top port with a 52.31% efficiency score, followed by Mwanza (51.14%) and Port Bell (37.96%). Uganda's failure to dredge piers in two decades has left its infrastructure ill-equipped for modern shipping needs, according to marine experts.
Uganda's transport ministry acknowledges the challenges, citing population density as a barrier to Port Bell expansion. However, officials confirm ongoing World Bank negotiations to fund modernization efforts. Meanwhile, Kenya and Tanzania continue advancing their own port projects, with Tanzania's MV Mwanza ship set for December 2022 delivery.
The East African Community's inland waterway transport initiative remains at risk without coordinated regional infrastructure development. As Kenya's president emphasized in 2021, efficient lake transport could reduce cargo costs by 50% and boost trade competitiveness across East and Central Africa.
