Uganda traders want infrastructure at Mombasa, Dares-Salaam ports improved

Exporters and Importers have asked the Kenya and Tanzania ports authorities to invest more money in infrastructure to reduce on the distance that Uganda traders move to get their cargo.

Charles Kereeba, the chairman Shippers’ Council said the cost of doing business is choking them due to the high transport costs they invest in transportation.

Uganda being a land locked country; it fully depends on Tanzania and Kenya as their export and import destination. But all is not well.

Ugandan traders are spending a lot of money more especially on transport.

In a meeting between Uganda shipper’s council, transporters and the ports authorities of both countries, the Ugandan business community asked the Kenya Ports Authority to help them extend port services to Nairobi by way of constructing a warehouse.

*“Even the Tanzania Ports Authority should help traders equally by rehabilitating the Isaka dry port which can reduce the distance they drive to Dar-es-Salaam Port," Kereeba the chairman of the Shippers’ Council, said.

Currently truck driver’s drive 1152.15kms from Kampala to Mombasa yet the distance would be shorter if there was an alternative in Nairobi.

From Kampala to Dar es Salaam transporters drive 1680.28 KM yet from Isaka dry port to Mutukula border it’s only 500km.

Drivers also complained about the delays and increasing bureaucracy at the two ports, due to unreliable systems, that are leading to double taxation.

Both the Kenyan and Tanzania Ports Authority have put in place strategic plans to ensure that they improve on the conditions under which Ugandans traders operate.

“Isaka port is currently under rehabilitation and when the railway starts operation the distance will be shorter” said Deusdedit Kakoko, the director general of Tanzania Ports Authority.

Jjemba Kanakulya, one of the local traders said that as business people they need to adjust and stop last minute clearance of goods.

*“Sometimes business people tend to wait for cargo to land they start running around with documents to pay all their dues which extends the release of cargo," Kanakulya said.