Kicumbi Laston, a trucker from Zambia told URN that they loaded goods from South Africa destined for Congo through Mpondwe but they were told by clearing agents upon arrival at the border that they could not proceed with their journey because of insecurity in Eastern DRC.
Under this system, a COVID-19 digital certificate issued by one country will be mutually recognized by the other countries, thus eliminating the need for multiple testing.
The Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) is seeking 93.5 Billion shillings to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the sub sector and also repair and maintain its assets.
Lubowa last made a trip from Kenya through Uganda to Democratic Republic of Congo two weeks back. At the Malaba border, he had papers that showed he had tested negative to the virus. However, clearing agents and customs officials refused to touch his papers.
Every day, at least 100 trucks transport sand from Kapeeka, Semuto, Kikamulo and Kito sub-counties in Nakaseke district. The sand is sold to construction sites in Kampala city and Wakiso district. But the task force has banned the activities saying that it is impossible to implement protect the workers and communities against the pandemic.
Uganda’s members in the East African Legislative Assembly [EALA] who have been on a fact finding mission at the different border entries, said in some places like Busia, the queue goes for as long as 30 kilometers into Kenya. George Odongo, the chairperson of Uganda’s chapter said it’s important to urgently handle the situation at the border before it spirals out of control.
In a circular this morning, the tax body said trucks carrying cargo shall be permitted to only park inside boarded warehouses or internal container depots. This, URA wrote, does not include roads along the Container Depots and warehouses.
In a videoconference summit on Tuesday morning, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya indicated the need to address the truck drivers, now seen as the weak link to spread the virus. President John Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi did not participate in the summit. It is still not clear why.
On a daily basis, between 300 to 1,000 cargo trucks are cleared by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the immigration department at Elegu border post, on a continuing journey to South Sudan. However, the Minister observed that there is laxity among the border community who need adequate and timely knowledge about the threats posed by the global killer pandemic.
Bernard Ssengendo, one of the truck drivers says that although they are allowed to make movements during daytime and return to the Ugandan side of the border for meals, they are ordered to lock themselves inside their trucks throughout the night by Rwanda National Police.
Truck drivers along the Northern Corridor at the Malaba Kenya border resumed strike on Tuesday, 16 hours after they called off the exercise. The drivers blocked the entrance to the Bus Park to ensure that no vehicle enters or leaves the town unless through Uganda to Busia Kenya.
