KAMPALA – The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija has admitted that the outbreak of Coronavirus in both Kenya and Uganda has left the two nations bickering on handling of truck drivers transporting goods.
Kasaija made the revelation during Tuesday’s plenary sitting, while responding to a concern raised by Fredrick Angura (Tororo South) who complained of the delays Ugandan traders are facing at the Malaba border.
Angura told Parliament that the cue from the Northern corridor has reached over 8miles and threatening to reach Mbale and the same experience is happening in Busia, where the cue had approached Busitema.
He said, “This has put a lot of pressure on the Coronovirus team. The congestion has become another time bomb because we don’t know where these people are coming from and this has caused serious threat there.”
He also urged Government to come to the aid of the Coronavirus team camped at Tororo, saying despite submitting their budget for allowances over three weeks back, the team is yet to recy any penny.
In response to the concern, Minister Kasaija said that President Yoweri Museveni was notified of the matter and spoke to his Kenyan counterpart, promising that the matter will soon be streamlined.
The Minister said, “Our colleagues the other side aren’t allowing trucks to move. At one time, they’re insisting that trucks being driven by Ugandan drivers should be handed over to Kenya drivers. We said that doesn’t make sense, supposing I give you my truck and crush it, do that was abandoned.”
Now, Uganda is accusing Kenya of playing delay tactics, where Uganda is spending 5-10 minutes to clear Kenyan trucks, Kenya is spending 20-30minutes.
