The Permanent secretary at the agriculture ministry, Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, has described the newly-signed fish deal with Kenya as a step towards smooth trade relations between the three countries.
This was after flagging off the first consignment of fish from Kenya to the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda.
“This is the first step in opening up smooth Kenya-Uganda-DRC transit relations,” he said.
Kenya and Ugandan have signed an agreement that allows smooth transit of Kenyan fish to Democratic Republic of Congo.
The officials from both sides converged at Busia Border custom center.
The Ugandan side was led by Kyomukama while the Kenyan team was led by Dr. Francis Owino, Principal Secretary of the Kenyan State Department for Fisheries.
According to a joint statement released after signing the framework, the two governments agreed to facilitate transportation of Fish from Lake Turkana, through Uganda to Congo without interference.
Kenya and Uganda have for long had trade fights.
Kenya had in the last two years restricted the exports of poultry and dairy products from Uganda, straining the relationship between the two countries.
The issue on poultry was resolved after Uganda threatened to ban Nairobi from exporting its goods to the landlocked neighbour.
In 2020, Kenya blocked Ugandan sugar and sugarcanes, costing traders who were exporting raw cane to sugar mills billions of shillings as the raw material was left to rot on trucks at the border.
A few days ago, Kenya reintroduced a levy on eggs imported from Uganda.
Uganda says Kenya is now taxing its eggs at a rate of Ksh72 ($0.6) a tray, bringing back a levy that had been suspended last December following bilateral talks between Kampala and Nairobi.
