Kenya and Uganda have resolved to eliminate all existing Nontariff barriers hindering trade between the two countries.
Trade ministers Lee Kinyanjui (Kenya) and his Ugandan counterpart, Gen. Wilson Mbasu, who met in Mbale, in Eastern Uganda, today resolved to fully align all trade-related commitments to the East African Community treaty and related protocols.
“Today, with Uganda’s Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Hon. Gen. Wilson Mbadi, we issued a joint communiqué on resolved trade barriers between Kenya and Uganda,” revealed CS Kinyanjui.
“Kenya and Uganda reached a joint agreement to remove the trade barriers and ease the movement of goods and people across their borders, in line with the East African Community (EAC) Treaties and Protocols,” he added.
This followed a directive by Kenyan President Dr. William Samoei Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, during their bilateral engagement held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 30th to 31st July 2025.
The two East African leaders directed the ministers responsible for trade from the two neighbouring countries to urgently convene a meeting to resolve the trade barriers impasse.
In the joint communique, the two ministers also agreed to clear the congestion of trucks along key cross-border points, including Malaba, Busia, Suam, and Lwakhakha, to ensure seamless flow of goods, services, and people.
“It’s very serious to receive numerous complaints affecting business at the border points, noting that they are committed to returning normalcy at cross-border points,” Kinyanjui said.
He added, “We don’t want activities that affect business. Officers bestowed with cargo clearance, and they fail to discharge their duties efficiently, will face severe consequences.”
“It’s regrettable that it takes 2-3 days for cargo from Kenya to cross the Kenyan border. We should ensure our borders are seamless. We should ensure our borders are devoid of non-tariff barriers,” he said.
Uganda trade minister Gen. Wilson Mbasu said they travelled to the border points of Kenya and Uganda for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation at the OSBP.
“We want facilitation of quick movement of people and services trade, services, and people in a bid to raise the economy of the region, noting that barriers are restricting trade,” he said.
Mbasu added, “We are for an on-the-spot check of the OSBP. Facilitation of free movement of goods, services, and people is critical.The follow-ups will confirm why they were established in line with EAC and economic integration.
Present were the Principal Secretaries Dr. Juma Mukhwana (Industry) and Regina Ombam (Trade).
By Absalom Namwalo
