Goods from Kenya stuck at the Uganda-Kenya border post as Uganda declined to process their cargo through customs. This follows M23 capture of Goma and Bukavu Cities. Photo | David Awori
The M23 rebels’ advances and capture of Congolese border territory have put Uganda’s exports in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a fix as Ugandans lose business and revenue.
The Uganda Revenue Authority officials yesterday said goods in transit through Uganda to the DRC’s cities of Goma and Bukavu can’t be cleared through Rwanda-Uganda border points of Kyanika and Katuna.
The M23 rebels captured the two provisional cities in eastern DRC in the last two months.
The spokesman of Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Mr Robert Kalumba, confirmed that Uganda wouldn’t allow transit of goods through border points that are not under DRC control.
Mr Kalumba said Uganda is losing revenue and trade, but he couldn’t share figures.
DRC is Uganda’s biggest trading partner in the region.
Uganda’s exports to DRC amounted to Shs2 trillion last year, but the blockage of borders by the M23 rebels now complicates this cross-border trade.
A multi-billion shilling road project that would connect Uganda at Bunagana border to Goma City, DRC, which was considered to be a trade game changer, is now in doubt.
The M23 rebels first seized Bunagana border on the DRC side, prompting Uganda to stop all official transit of goods through it. Then they moved north and captured Ishasha, Busanza, and Kyeshero. Uganda can no longer accept transit of goods through them.
Ugandans that transport goods to Goma City and South Kivu, DRC, have been using Rwanda territory, which also made Ugandan goods more expensive to customers in the Congolese market.
Kenya has also been affected by the suspension of customs duties for goods heading to DRC at border posts under the control of rebels.
Several trucks carrying goods from Kenya destined to DRC are stuck at Busia border following the closure to business of the borders of Katuna and Cyanika.Some of the items affected are fish, fuel, motor vehicle spare parts, and plastics.
Mr Michael Amodoi, a clearing agent at Busia border, who has been clearing DRC-bound fish from Kenya, said since Wednesday he is stuck with four trucks weighing 100 tonnes of fish.
Mr Amodoi said three trucks were still stuck in Kenya while another, which was cleared on Tuesday, had not been able to cross to Congo because of the directive.
A memo by URA indicated "It is now internationally recognised that Goma City, a final destination to Cyanika border and Bukavu Town, a final destination to Katuna are no longer under the control of the central government of DRC".
A Kenyan fish dealer, Mr Shaban Okumu, said they have been relying on Katuna to export his fish to Bukavu.
“When the diversion was ordered yesterday , I had already loaded 20 tonnes of fish which is destined to DRC, but we can’t proceed because even URA is not giving us an alternative border for export of our fish .” Okumu said .
Mr Guillian Paskali, a Congolese fish trader, said their business has also been affected.
Mr Paskali said the remaining alternative routes like the Mirama Hills border, are too long and would make business unsustainable.
"The alternative border of Mirama Hills is 200km longer. This is an additional cost to business," Mr Paskali said.
He said he had been hiring a truck from Busia fish market at Shs16m to transport fish to Bukavu. He said the transport costs will shoot up given the new challenges.
Despite the EAC-SADC process agreeing on a ceasefire, M23 rebels have continued to advance to new areas, including Lubero and Butembo Townships in North Kivu.
This has prompted Uganda to deploy more troops in Bunia and Lubero areas to protect its economic interests in DRC.
Last week, President Museveni said Uganda has secured permission from the DRC government to deploy in Lubero and Bunia to fight Allied Democratic Forces rebels and protect the construction of the Kasindi-Beni-Butembo Road.
ABOUT THE WAR
Beginning in January, M23 began making major advances towards Goma and Bukavu, the provincial capitals of North Kivu and South Kivu, intensifying growing tensions between the two nations. By January 30, M23 had captured all of Goma and began an advance towards Bukavu, capturing the town by February 1
