Kenya lifts ban on Uganda’s poultry products

Kenya has lifted a two-year ban that it had slapped on Ugandan poultry and related products.
The ban was lifted following a bilateral agreement in March, where it had been resolved that Kenya allows in Ugandan poultry products as Uganda opens up to Kenyan beef.
The development was communicated by Kenya’s Livestock PS Harry Kimutai, who told Business Daily that Ugandan firms were now free to bring in poultry products after Kenya “recently received official communication from Kampala highlighting measures put in place to control the viral influenza disease”.
Mr Kimutai also noted that Uganda had opened up for Kenyan beef traders, saying: “I can confirm that Kenya’s beef [is now] allowed access to the Ugandan market.”
The poultry ban had been instituted following a spat of viral influenza commonly known as bird flu, which had swept parts of the central corridor and eastern Uganda.
Government, in 2017, confirmed the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which prompted Kenya to lock out Ugandan poultry products.
Mr James Kiwalabye, the Ugachick Poultry Breeders sales and marketing manager, yesterday said farmers have been allowed to export eggs to Kenya but they were still facing challenges in the area of exporting dressed chicken and day-old chicks.
“The market has a lot of processes to be followed, especially when it comes to dressed chicken and exporting day-old chicks,” he said.
In April, during a state visit to Kenya, Presidents Museveni and Uhuru Kenyatta agreed that Uganda would increase her sugar exports to Kenya from 36,000 metric tonnes annually to 90,000 metric tonnes.
It was also agreed that Uganda resume its poultry exports to Kenya, which had been stopped after local dealers sought “protection” from the Kenyan government.