“Since the start of the pandemic, truck drivers have continually served regional economies by delivering essential transportation services of medicines, food and other commodities even with the numerous challenges presented by COVID-19 protocols and risks to life,” reads the letter signed off by Mercy Ireri, the Association’s chief operations officer.

Kenya Transporters Association hailed the Ugandan government for allowing truckers from across the region to get vaccinated for free.

In a Friday letter to Minister for Health Jane Aceng, the Association thanked President Museveni for “Uganda’s initiative to give free Covid -19 vaccination to truck drivers regardless of their nationality and age cross the borders into Uganda.”

“Since the start of the pandemic, truck drivers have continually served regional economies by delivering essential transportation services of medicines, food and other commodities even with the numerous challenges presented by COVID-19 protocols and risks to life,” reads the letter signed off by Mercy Ireri, the Association’s chief operations officer.

“We also thank the Ministry of Health, Uganda for prioritising to vaccinate this important section of the population for FREE. Covid-19 does not recognise borders. We are one region and we depend on each other.”

Ireri noted that Port Health Uganda informed them that if 80% of drivers crossing the borders are vaccinated, there may be a chance to stop Covid-19 testing of drivers crossing the borders. “On behalf of all Kenya Transporters and drivers, we say, THANK YOU TO THE UGANDA GOVERNMENT,” reads the letter.

“We hope the Kenya Government will soon prioritize and have enough vaccines for the Kenya long-distance drivers who form the majority of drivers crossing into Uganda and the EAC region in general.”

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