Uganda government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo says there what he terms a slight problem with all the three borders with Rwanda. Various reports emerged Thursday claiming that cargo trucks from Uganda had been blocked from crossing into Rwanda at Katuna border. Opondo told journalists in Kampala, there is also a problem at Cyanika and Kagitumba as there is a tension between both countries yet they don’t know why it is escalating high. “There is a slight problem at all the three border points between Uganda and Rwanda.” Opondo said “I don’t know about the tensions being high, but what I know yesterday (Wednesday) at around 6pm, the authorities from Rwanda refused vehicles both private and public from entering Uganda. Uganda provides the everyday necessities of life. They even prevented their own people from coming to buy the daily necessities, he added “If it was construction of the road “they wouldn’t have prevented their people from coming into the country. Our Minister of foreign affairs is in touch with the authorities of Rwanda,” Mr Opondo further noted that by Thursday morning, Rwandan authorities had blocked even school children from crossing into Uganda for studies. “If there’s any other reason beyond the construction works they have given, the honorable Sam Kutesa is in engagement and we hope that this matter will be resolved quickly,” Opondo told The Dailymonitor Recently, Rwanda Revenue Authority  in a letter addressed to the Commissioner for Customs at Uganda Revenue Authority on Wednesday, said heavy trucks would be diverted...

Kenya and Ethiopia have renewed their commitment to the full implementation of the the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor(LAPSSET) projects as key enablers of the transformation of the two economies. President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that the regional infrastructure initiative is central to the unlocking of the economic potential of not only Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan but that of the entire East African region. Speaking when they presided over the official opening of a two-day Kenya-Ethiopia high level trade forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the two leaders promised to deepen trade and economic ties between the two countries. “In my mind, the LAPSSET project has great promise of transforming our countries and improving the living conditions of our people,” President Kenyatta said. “Kenya and Ethiopia resolved to partner in developing first class infrastructure projects connecting our great nations and the continent. By this I have in mind the LAPSSET project which Kenya is, for sure, still fully committed to,” he added. President Kenyatta is in Ethiopia on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and is accompanied by a high powered trade delegation. Besides pursuing joint infrastructure projects, President Kenyatta and PM Abiy called for the fastracking of the ongoing transformation of Moyale town into a cross-border trade hub in the region in line with the 2012 Special Status Agreement (SSA). “The SSA provides a good framework for today’s discussions. The four main areas covered by the Agreement-Trade, Investment,...

A War of words has ensued between Ugandan and Rwandan authorities following the closure of Katuna-Gatuma border by Rwanda Revenue Authority. On Wednesday, February 28, the taxman issued an order barring cargo tracks from Uganda entering Rwanda to pave the way for upgrade of the one-stop border post. The heavy vehicles were temporarily diverted to other border crossings, Kagitumba. “Rwanda Revenue Authority would like to inform you that with effect from 28th February 2019, all heavy trucks carrying goods destined and those transiting via Gatuna shall be temporarily diverted from Using Gatuna Boarder Post to Kagitimba/Mirama Hills border posts,said Ms. Rosine Uwamariya, the Commissioner for customs. The announcement did not go well with Ugandans. Ugandan government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo reported that their vehicles have been denied entry to Rwanda, a claim that has been rubbished by Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Sezibera, “Those who have gone through Kagitumba have crossed,” said Mr. Sezibera. Thereafter, Ugandan government summoned Rwandan envoy to the east African country to give clarification on the standoff at the border. Uganda’s High Commissioner to Rwanda Ms. Olive Woneka was also directed to get an explanation from Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kigali. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited Mr. Mugambage (the Ambassador) today to brief Uganda on temporary closure. We are seeking explanation,” reiterated Mr. Opondo. Beyond the cargo trucks issue, Rwandan nationals were reportedly stopped from crossing into Uganda as passenger Service Vehicles were checked. There are claims that Rwandese are being detained and...

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday joined calls to allow the free movement of Africans across the continent. Kenyatta said this during an official visit to Ethiopia where he met Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed and President Sahle- Work Zwede. ‘‘There is need for our people to be allowed to travel throughout the African continent freely without hindrance, since we are all brothers and sisters with a common heritage as Africans’‘, he said on Twitter. In 2016, the African Union launched the production of a common passport for Africans to facilitate the free movement of citizens across the continent. Details of the date for production and final takeover is still not certain. Kenyatta arrived in Addis Ababa on Friday March 1 for talks aimed at deepening relations between the two East African giants. Source:all Africa

Kenya and Ethiopia have renewed their commitment to implement joint infrastructure projects as key enablers of the two economies. President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that the regional mega initiative, the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (Lapsset), is central to the unlocking of the economic potential of the entire East African region. The Lapsset project includes building of railway, electricity, roads and the Lamu Port. Speaking when they presided over the official opening of a two-day Kenya-Ethiopia Trade and Investment Forum in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the two leaders promised to deepen trade and economic ties between the two countries. "In my mind, the Lapsset project has great promise of transforming our countries and improving the living conditions of our people," President Kenyatta said. "Kenya and Ethiopia resolved to partner in developing first class infrastructure projects connecting our great nations and the continent. By this I have in mind the Lapsset project which Kenya is, for sure, still fully committed to," he added. President Kenyatta is in Ethiopia on a two-day official visit at the invitation of reformist Prime Minister Abiy. Top on the joint infrastructure initiatives is the Moyale Joint City and Economic Zone project. The two leaders called for the fastracking of the ongoing transformation of Moyale town into a cross-border trade hub in the region in line with the 2012 Special Status Agreement (SSA). "Our strengthened collaboration in cross-border trade and investment is crucial for the overall development. In light of this,...

East African Community partner states have resumed negotiations on a comprehensive review of common external tariff. The member states had taken time off to finalise their national positions. Officials from the partner states met in Kigali last week to agree on a regional position that should lead to a new CET regime. The heads of state tasked the committee of experts to work out the sticky issues on how goods imported into the region will be taxed, amid divergent national proposals that have threatened to derail the review. The meeting came after the February 1 EAC Heads of State Summit held in Arusha, Tanzania, where the Council of Ministers was asked to review the relevant policies and harmonise the CET in three months with a view to supporting the growth of local industry. However, despite a consensus on the need to review the CET, disagreements on the tariff structure, exemptions or stay of application and how to treat sensitive goods, which have been at the centre of regional trade disputes, still came up at the Kigali meeting. Each partner state has developed a national position and these are being discussed. Chris Kiptoo, Kenya's Trade Principal Secretary, told The EastAfrican that the technical committee is expected to come up with a report that will be presented to the EAC Council of Ministers for adoption. "The objective is to drive growth of intra-EAC trade, which has not been doing well. That is why we hope to reach a consensus on the issues,"...

Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen addresses a joint press conference after signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in Khartoum, Sudan, on Feb. 28, 2019. Sudan and Ethiopia on Thursday signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on economy and trade in the meetings of the higher Sudanese-Ethiopian economic committee in Khartoum. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) Source: Xinhau

East African governors of the African Development Bank on Wednesday commended the institution for approving transformative projects valued at $13.8 billion since 2010. The projects in ICT, education, public finance, energy, transport, water and sanitation sectors, make the institution “a trusted partner for delivering innovative solutions” the governors noted during consultative meetings with the institution’s president and senior management. Governors and representatives from Burundi, Djibouti, Rwanda, Comoros, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda attended the high-level meetings. The meetings were an opportunity for Governors to pitch regional needs and highlight country-specific opportunities. According to Makki Mohamed Abdelrahim Alian, temporary Governor for Sudan, “Sudan needs the Bank’s High 5s because it addresses Sudan’s needs.” Alian said through the Feed Africa program “Africa can feed itself and feed the world, as well as pioneer healthy food production, which is in demand globally.” Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Finance Minister said, “Ethiopia is keen to advance regional integration and consolidate its peace agreement with Eritrea in order to leverage the Bank’s support for regional infrastructure projects. There are many opportunities to work with the Bank on our ambitious infrastructure projects.” In response, Bank President Akinwumi Adesina said: “There’s no doubt that the landmark signing of the peace accord between Ethiopia and Eritrea has opened up a lot more opportunities for investments by the Bank in the Horn of Africa.” Adesina acknowledged the leading role of the 13 East African regional member states of the African Development Bank Group in the economic transformation of the continent....

The Indian High Commissioner to Uganda H.E Shri Ravi Shankar has asked Ugandans to exploit opportunities available in India for Uganda’s products. Shri Ravi Shankar noted that Uganda has more comparative advantage to do business with India as compared to other countries in the region because of the favourable environment between the two states. “In East Africa, Uganda has strong working relationship with India; let Uganda’s business community   exploit such opportunities by exporting more products to India where the demand is high due to its population.  This will lower the country’s Trade deficit,” he said. The High Commissioner said this during the awarding ceremony organized by the Indian Business Forum in Uganda which took place at the Kampala Serena Hotel on February 26.The ceremony was recognizing India’s enterprises that are excelling in doing business in Uganda. Products with ready market Agro related products especially fresh food and milk were cited among products that will have ready market in India. Shri Ravi Shankar said Uganda should not only focus on reducing the volume of imports from India but on how Ugandan products can access the non-exploited markets in India. To ensure that Uganda products have access to the India’s market, the commissioner noted that India has softened the process of applying for Visas to India, especially for the business communities. Among the interventions put in place include applying for India’s Visa on online which he said saves the applicants, time and transport cost. Trushar Upadhyay, the general secretary of the India...

Kenya’s trade deficit widened by marginal 1.2 percent last year due to a slowdown in demand for imports compared to 2017 amid a slight growth in exports. The deficit — the gap between imports and exports — climbed to Sh1.145 trillion in 12 months through December 2018 from Sh1.13 trillion a year earlier, fresh statistics Central Bank of Kenya released late Wednesday show. Total imports increased 1.88 percent to nearly Sh1.76 trillion, a slower pace than exports which rose 3.16 percent to Sh612.88 billion. That means for every Sh100 that Kenya spent on buying goods from abroad, it only earned Sh35 from exports. A higher trade deficit, economists say, slows down the creation of new jobs for the youth as most earnings within Kenya are spent on buying goods from foreign factories, increasing production and jobs there. Kenya has made penetration of value-added farm produce such as tea, coffee and fruits to China and India a priority under the ambitious Integrated National Exports Development and Promotion Strategy unveiled last July. “The national export growth strategy is driven by the overriding national goal of closing the balance of trade deficit through export growth, factor productivity and stimulating overall factor employment and economic development,” says State-run Export Promotion Council in the strategic plan. The ambitious exports growth strategy targets an average annual growth in exports of 25 percent between 2018 and 2022, culminating in a trade surplus. “In that strategy, we are looking east because the market in China and India is...