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Uganda leads other EAC states as Mombasa port’s biggest client for transit cargo

Whereas Uganda still uses Mombasa port as a gateway, it continues to seek alternative routes. Photo / File 

What you need to know:

  • More than half of transit cargo through Mombasa Port in 2024 was destined for Uganda, making the country the leading user of the port outside Kenya  

More than half of transit cargo handled through Mombasa port is destined for Uganda, according to data from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).

In the 12 months to December 2024, according to KPA managing director Capt William Ruto, Mombasa port handled a total of 41.1 million tonnes of cargo, an increase from 35.98 million in 2023, of which 13.4 million tonnes was transit cargo.

Transit cargo, he noted had during the period increased by 17.4 percent compared to 2023, with Uganda registering the largest increase among landlocked neighbours, including South Sudan, DR Congo, and Rwanda that use Mombasa port as the main gateway for imports of fuel and consumer goods and exports of tea and coffee.

“Transit cargo volumes scaled by 17.4 percent, to reach 13.4m tonnes in 2024, highlighting the Mombasa port's crucial role in regional trade,” Mr Ruto said, noting that during the year, Uganda was the leading transit destination, accounting for 65.7 percent of transit cargo.

Of the 13.4m tonnes, Uganda had 8.8 million tonnes, which was a growth of 23.8 percent or 1.69m tonnes compared to 7.11m tonnes in 2023.

The rest was shared by other key transit destinations, which included South Sudan, with a share of 12.7 percent, DR Congo (11.8 percent), Rwanda (5.1 percent), and Tanzania (3.4 percent).

Uganda continues to use the Northern corridor through Kenya as its gateway but has been exploring other major options including the Southern corridor through Tanzania, which is, however, considered an expensive route.

The Ugandan government has also made major inroads, negotiating with the Tanzanian government to handle key imports such as fuel through the Dar es Salaam Port.

Last year in August, Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) said it had begun shipping oil products through the Port of Dar es Salaam, breaking years of dependence on Mombasa port.

In a statement UNOC said Uganda would transport approximately 36 million litres of oil each month - equivalent to 1,028 truckloads - through the Port of Dar es Salaam, starting with a shipment of 18m litres (520 truckloads), after the two countries had signed an agreement during the Second Business Forum in Dar es Salaam.

The decision had been prompted by technical and cost issues related to using Mombasa port, which had followed attempts by Uganda to eliminate third-party oil marketing companies from importing the country’s petroleum products.

Uganda imports about $1.6b worth of petroleum products annually, according to 2022 data.

However, despite the search for alternative routes, Mombasa port remains Uganda’s major trade gateway.

During the 12 months to December 2024, container traffic through Mombasa port rose by 23.53 percent to more than two million 20-foot equivalent units, up from about 1.62m in 2023.

The port saw exceptional growth in transshipment traffic, which rose to 491,666 TEUs in 2024, reflecting an extraordinary increase of 280,593 TEUs translating to 132.9 percent against 2023.

This growth can be attributed to vessel diversions stemming from the Red Sea crisis and an increase in vessel calls to Mombasa driven by our efficient turnaround times.

More than half of transit cargo through Mombasa Port in 2024 was destined to Uganda, making the country the leading user of the port outside Kenya.