The Ugandan National Assembly Committee on Tourism and Trade Affairs has pledged to support efforts to eliminate non-tariff barriers affecting trade between Uganda and Kenya, saying their removal would unlock the full potential of the two countries’ economic partnership.
The committee made the commitment during a visit to the Port of Mombasa, where legislators held discussions with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on measures to improve cargo clearance, reduce delays and strengthen the movement of Ugandan imports and exports through the port.
The visit sought to give the legislators a better understanding of operations at East Africa’s busiest maritime gateway and assess logistics challenges affecting Ugandan traders and transporters using the Northern Corridor.
The discussions focused on extra costs and delays affecting regional traders, cross-border cargo movement and joint automation and digital tracking initiatives involving KPA and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
KPA Chief Executive Officer Capt. William Ruto said non-tariff barriers remained among the challenges affecting customers, exporters and importers along the Northern Corridor and called for stronger regional cooperation to address them.
He said closer collaboration between agencies and countries was essential in improving cargo clearance, reducing turnaround times and facilitating regional economic integration.
“We are working closely with all regional partners to deliver operational excellence and ensure transit cargo is handled efficiently and safely,” Ruto said.
Non-tariff barriers affecting trade between Kenya and Uganda include restrictions on some agricultural products such as milk and poultry, long truck queues at the Malaba and Busia border posts, conflicting standards and delays in issuing permits.
Despite bilateral agreements and commitments under the East African Community (EAC), inconsistent implementation and enforcement of agreed measures have continued to slow cross-border trade.
Ruto said the Port of Mombasa was committed to working with regional partners to address such challenges and ensure the facility remained a reliable gateway for Uganda and other countries in the region.
The Port of Mombasa is the premier maritime gateway to East and Central Africa, connecting more than 80 global ports to a vast landlocked hinterland.
It serves as the starting point of the Northern Corridor, linking Kenya’s coast to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan.
Ruto said the port maintained direct connectivity with more than 80 seaports globally and was served by over 40 major international shipping lines.
He said the port comprises Kilindini Harbour, Port Reitz, the Old Port, Port Tudor and the tidal waters surrounding Mombasa Island, with a handling capacity of 2.65 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
The KPA chief executive said the Authority was implementing automation and digital transformation initiatives to streamline operations and improve coordination between key agencies, including the URA.
He said KPA was in the early stages of replacing its legacy SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system with IFS Cloud, a next-generation enterprise platform expected to improve operational efficiency and integrate business processes.
The modernisation programme will also include digital automation of workflows, electronic document management, integrated billing, real-time reporting and improved data-driven decision-making across the Authority.
Ruto said the digital initiatives would improve visibility of cargo movement, strengthen coordination among agencies and contribute to faster clearance and reduced turnaround times.
He also outlined ongoing infrastructure expansion projects aimed at strengthening the port’s capacity as cargo volumes increase and place greater demands on existing facilities.
He reaffirmed KPA’s commitment to ensuring strategic projects deliver value, improve service delivery and position Mombasa to meet the changing needs of the global shipping industry.
The KPA chief executive said customer-focused solutions, operational efficiency and digital transformation remained central to improving the competitiveness of the port and supporting regional trade.
He said effective collaboration between Kenya, Uganda and other Northern Corridor countries would create opportunities for expanded trade while lowering logistics costs for businesses.
Chairman of the Ugandan Parliamentary Committee on Tourism and Trade Affairs Boniface Okot appreciated KPA for the progress made, particularly the integration of systems between agencies, which he said would increase transparency and improve efficiency.
Okot said Uganda was the largest and most strategic external client of the Port of Mombasa, accounting for more than 65 per cent of transit cargo handled at the facility.
He said millions of metric tonnes of essential imports and exports moved through the trade route every year, making efficient port and corridor operations critical to Uganda’s economy.
Okot pledged Uganda’s commitment to working with Kenya to eliminate trade barriers and strengthen cooperation in the spirit of East African Community integration.
He said removing bottlenecks along the corridor would benefit traders in both countries while supporting economic growth and regional integration.
The committee’s visit also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review measures aimed at improving cargo evacuation and ensuring smooth movement of goods from the port to their final destinations.
Ruto said KPA would continue working with regional partners and other stakeholders to strengthen supply-chain efficiency and ensure transit cargo was handled safely and efficiently.
Separately, Ruto held discussions with Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers International Chairman Krishnan Subramaniam on the potential of the Blue Economy and the development of Kenya’s maritime sector.
The two explored opportunities for professional training and capacity building as the East African shipping industry continues to expand.
Ruto said KPA was drawing on international expertise to strengthen local capacity, improve professional standards and enhance Kenya’s competitiveness in the maritime industry.
The proposed partnership will support joint training programmes designed to upskill port workers and other maritime stakeholders while increasing local expertise in shipping and related sectors.
It will also seek to create career opportunities for young Kenyans interested in the maritime industry.
Ruto said the Government was laying the groundwork for further expansion of the maritime sector through increased investment in shipbuilding, ship repair and container construction.
He said such investments were important in unlocking the potential of the Blue Economy, creating jobs and strengthening Kenya’s position in the regional maritime industry.
Subramaniam commended KPA for its commitment to developing Kenya’s maritime sector and promoting professionalism and industry growth.
ICS Regional Chair Elijah Mbaru also hailed the Authority’s support, saying it was instrumental in developing a skilled and professional maritime workforce capable of competing on the global stage.
The engagements underscored the growing importance of partnerships between government agencies, regional institutions, private sector players and international maritime organisations in strengthening the competitiveness of the Port of Mombasa.
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