This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
Published on June 6, 2020, Uganda has escalated the standoff with Kenya over the compulsory use of Naivasha inland port for transit goods, saying the facility lacks basic amenities requisite for cross-border trade.
Uganda's Minister for Works and Transport, Gen Edward Katumba, has written a second letter to his Kenyan counterpart, James Macharia, indicating that the Naivasha Inland Container Depot does not have the capacity to handle imports intended for trans-shipment to Kampala and other neighboring land-locked countries.
Uganda wants the Kenyan government to suspend a legal notice that made compulsory movement of cargo from Mombasa to the Naivasha ICD, arguing the facility has no basic amenities to facilitate cross-border trade.
Gen Katumba wants his Kenyan counterpart to rescind the notice and address issues raised by transporters before implementing the directive.
Kenya insists the directive must be implemented as the truckers' grievances are addressed.
Ugandan traders have the option to move their imports from the Mombasa port to Dar es Salaam, but the shift would see them cover significantly longer distances making it more expensive.
Kenyan logistics sector players have supported Uganda's position, saying infrastructure and cost of using the service is way above that of using trucks.
