The Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya and Uganda David Da Silva today toured Busia One Stop Border Post and pledged his government’s commitment towards enhancing cross border trade between Kenya and Uganda
Addressing the OSBP management led by both Kenya and Uganda revenue authorities respectives, Da Silva disclosed that his government has so far injected a whooping 187million Canadian dollars to improve infrastructure in both Ugandan and Kenyan borders in efforts to foster trade and mutual understanding between the two states.
Speaking to the press after touring both sides of OSBP, he expressed his satisfaction with the progress achieved in terms of infrastructural development to facilitate and ease cross border trade across East Africa and reiterated his government’s support to continue funding one stop border posts in Uganda and Kenya to enable small scale traders across East Africa Community maximize profit
Busia Deputy County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto, lauded the Canadian Government for its continued financial support to achieve the concept of one stop border post, adding that through such support, the trucks snurlup experienced in Busia and Malaba borders shall be a thing of the past
The Busia border is one of the busiest in East Africa, with an average of 1,000 vehicles crossing per day (TMEA, 2020). In 2011, the time to cross the border was variable taking between a few hours and up to five days.
According to the Chairman, Border Management Committee Philip Koech, the OSBP ensures effective border control mechanisms are in place. It boosts trade by cutting the time taken to clear goods between the two nations, thus contributing to a reduction in transport cost, whilst increasing volumes of transhipment cargo through the Central Corridor. It is expected that time to cross the border will reduce by at least a third.
“This facility is an important link for ease of trade between our two countries. Uganda continues to be an important trading partner for Kenya. Opportunities for increased trade and investment have been created. I am happy to hear that because of this OSBP here in Busia, our revenue authority has been able to collect more revenues, a clear indication of increased trade flows,” noted Koech.
Busia OSBP has the highest revenue target in the Western Region, handling transit cargo to and from great lake region of Burundi, Rwanda, DRC, South Sudan and Uganda an average of 30,000 persons per month, and over 1000 cargo trucks daily.
By Absalom Namwalo and Salome Alwanda
