Greed, corruption killing E. Africa integration - traders

Uganda traders have urged the East African Parliament to help put right what they described as a “bad spirit towards the spirit of integration” by member states in facilitating business growth

Kampala- Uganda traders have urged the East African Parliament to help put right what they described as a “bad spirit towards the spirit of integration” by member states in facilitating business growth.

Speaking during a consultative meeting at Parliament yesterday, the traders said although the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) is pushing for integration and signing all the necessary laws, corruption and selfishness by individual member states is dragging the process.

Repacking policy
In particular, the traders, who comprised representatives of truck drivers and manufacturers, complained about the compulsory repackaging policy in Tanzania, the compulsory picking of clearance forms from Mombasa road for all goods in the single customs territory and the high visa charges for Ugandans going to South Sudan.

“Tanzania has come up with a requirement that all goods going to their country should be first registered, relabelled and again retested irrespective of whether they are certified in other countries. We think this is repetitive and rising the cost and time of doing business. We find that against the spirit of the EAC,” said Mr Godfrey Ssali from the Uganda Manufacturers Association

Mr Ssali added that all goods coming from Kenya are subject to a C2 document and exit note which must be obtained from one of the bonds warehouse on Mombasa road.
“Irrespective of where you load from, even if it is in Kisumu, you must drive to that place on Mombasa road, and you all know the Nairobi city traffic jam, to get those documents. That is against the spirit of integration because we make three steps forward and we take seven back,” he said.

Visa demands
Mr Willliam Busuulwa, the chairperson Uganda National Transporters Association, raised issue with the $100 visa requirement for Ugandans crossing into South Sudan yet Kenyans pay $50, saying this tips the business competitiveness scale in favour of Kenya.

“The fee was raised because Uganda chose to charge the same fee for the South Sudanese entering Uganda. For us businessmen, it means that each truck that enters South Sudan has to pay $200 for a single entry visa for both the driver and assistant driver. We are now trying to get Kenya identity cards so that we pass the borders as Kenyans,” he said.
Mr Omar Kassim, the executive director of the East Africa Business Council raised concern over the privatisation of the weigh bridge system, saying it has given rise to high weighing fees and intense corruption because the owners of the bridges only look at profit maximisation.

“Why don’t we have a common weigh bridge at one point where all cargo leaving the country should be weighed and a certificate charged a minimal fee so that we don’t add to the cost of doing business. Allowing private actors to run weigh bridges is self-defeating because if I own one, I would charge what I want.”

Eala member Mike Ssebalu, who chaired the meeting, said the regional parliament will see to it that the traders are helped.

“Integration is good and we all need it. However, there are issues we have to work on so that it benefits all people in the region,” he said.