Ugandan and Kenyan traders will be the biggest beneficiaries after their two countries signed a raft of agreements meant to ease trade.
This was a result of President Museveni`s three day state visit to his Kenyan counterpart HE Uhuru Kenyatta. The agreements focus not only on easing means of doing business between the two countries but also resolve some of the sticking issues that have been hindering trade.
Among others, the deals direct Kenya to consider increase of its sugar quota imported from Uganda to 90,000 metric tonnes from the current 36,000 tonnes.
Uganda has been tasked to formally lodge a request to this effect that would create market for at least 54,000 metric tonnes of its surplus 90,000 metric tonnes it produces annually.
On the other hand, beef exporters in Kenya can expect to tap into the Uganda market after the Uganda was directed to lift its ban on beef and beef products from Kenya with immediate effect.
The poultry industry in Uganda will also have reason to smile after Kenya agreeing to lift the ban on poultry products from Uganda within a week. It was agreed that a joint verification on the quality of Ugandan made tiles should be conducted within two weeks and thereafter they can be exported to Kenya.
For dairy producers in Uganda it should be good news after Kenya agreed to do away with a host on non-tariff barriers that were affecting their exports. Kenya also clarified that it has resumed issuance of importation permits of dairy products from Uganda, which had stopped on February 1st this year.
Above all these the government of Kenya pledged to allocate land in Naivasha for Uganda to develop a dry port for its cargo ahead of the completion of the Standard Gauge Railway phase 2 from Nairobi to Naivasha in June this year.
This development was well welcomed by Ugandan traders who noted that the dry port in Naivasha, will reduce on the distance from Mombasa.
Lino Ceril, General Secretary of Line Agency Uganda Limited remarked that Ugandans will own a facility to Clear their cargo, have some revenue benefits and control on their own goods.
For the case of goods that delay and need auctioning which Kenya has been doing and earning some revenue, it will now be done by Uganda.
However, it is not rosy news for those packaging alcohol in plastic sachets after both countries directed Uganda to ban this packaging by May 30th.
The two countries will also develop modalities on fighting alcohol use and drug trafficking.
Well implement, this deal will undoubtedly benefit the traders from the two sister Countries.
