Duncan Kakonge, the URA Manager in-charge of Eastern Region, attributes the increase in traffic to the impact of COVID-19 that restricted informal trade since some traders often prefer using porous border points to import and export goods.
A kilogram of Nambaale bean variety has dropped from Shillings 2300 to Shillings 2,100, Yellow and Kanyebwa from Shillings 2800 to Shillings 2600 and Wairimu, which comes from Mutukula now costs Shillings 1820 from Shillings 2000. Soybeans cost Shillings 2,100 from Shillings 2500. The traders are taking soya beans to Lira where it fetches Shillings 2,300.
Abdu Magidu Ogada, a bricks maker at Buchicha ‘B’ village in Sikuda sub-county of Busia district says that they have spared two acres of land specifically for making bricks due to the high demand.
Douglas Disan Ojambo, a resident of Masafu-Masinya town council, says the new road has attracted investors who had changed the face of most of trading centers along the new road. He says the new road has prompted landlords to replace their old buildings.
Idi Kibaki Muhammad, the Western division LC 3 chairperson in Busia Municipality says that the section allocated to the cloth traders isn't suitable for their business, arguing that they should be allocated alternative space.
the Duncan Kakonge, the URA Manager in-charge Eastern region, says they have decided to halt the operation following complaints from local leaders and a public decry against the enforcement in the region.
The owners of the impounded Kenyan registered motorcycles are being subjected to a fine of between Shillings 300,000 and Shillings 600,000. This has prompted many of the motorcycle owners to hide them for fearing of being impounded by URA and paying the hefty fines.
URA estimates that there are more than 2000 Kenyan registered number plates in Busia District alone. However, Duncan Kakonge, the URA Manager in-charge of Eastern region says that most of the motorcycle owners didn’t go through customs processes to obtain foreign motorcycles and use them on Ugandan roads.
Swaibu Lukuya, the chairperson of Fresh Food Vendors, says the situation in the market has continued to worsen because the old iron sheets and polythene papers they used to roof the shelters are won out.
Vincent Okurut, the Busia Town Clerk, says they are currently handling the procurement process, which they expect to conclude in the next three weeks. He says they have already addressed issues of the people who will be affected by the projects.
Ishmael Bumali, the secretary Sofia charcoal traders, says that 1,992 traders who were operating in the new market have shunned the business and scattered to different places within Busia town due to low demand and rampant operations by Uganda Revenue Authority- URA targeting them.
According to the traders, trucks parking along customs road block clients from seeing what is displayed in shops, breed insecurity, cause accidents and pause a serious health hazard as the truck drivers excrete in polythene bags and dispose their water drainage tranches putting their lives at risk of a cholera outbreak.
