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Uganda, Kenya Agree To Remove Trade Barriers & Improve Bilateral Relations

Delegations from Uganda and Kenya in a group photo after Ministers signed a joint  Communique

Uganda and Kenya on 21st December 2021 held a cordial bilateral meeting in Nairobi to discuss and resolve issues that impede smooth bilateral trade flows.

The meeting was held at Cabinet Secretary/Minister level and hosted at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives.

The Ugandan delegation was led by Minister of Agriculture, Frank Tumwebaze while the Kenyan delegation was led by Peter Munya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives. He was accompanied by Betty Maina, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of  Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development.

According to a joint statement issued by Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Frank Tumwebaze and his Kenyan counterpart, Peter Munya, the two Ministers discussed a number of issues including trade in poultry and poultry products.

“The Ministers noted there have been disruptions in trade in poultry and poultry products between the two countries. Both parties agreed to immediately remove any administrative measures that have hitherto inhibited trade in poultry and poultry products,” the statement reads in part.

The Ministers also discussed the issue of fish in transit, where they took noted of circumstances surrounding the recent interception of fish in transit from Kenya to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Both parties agreed that both the countries establish a team of key stakeholders including the Revenue and Fisheries Authorities to work out a transit mechanism for fish from Lake Turkana in Kenya to the DRC through Uganda,” the statement says, adding that both countries further agreed to work jointly to address challenges of harvesting immature fish in Lake Victoria.

Domestic Levies and Sugar Issues

The Ministers took note of the persistence of domestic levies maintained by both countries in contravention of EAC Customs Union Protocol. Both parties recalled their commitment to remove the levies during the April 2021 bilateral trade meeting in Kampala.

“The Ministers undertook to remove the levies immediately and in any case not later than 1st July,2022.

Regarding trade in sugar, the Ministers agreed to continue cooperating on matters relating to trade in sugar, including streamlining issuance of import permits.

Trade in Milk

The Ministers took note of the ongoing trade in milk and milk products and agreed that Kenya undertakes a verification exercise of Uganda’s dairy sector during the last week of January, 2022.

Taddewo William Senyonyi
https://www.facebook.com/senyonyi.taddewo
William is a seasoned business and finance journalist. He is also an agripreneur and a coffee enthusiast.

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