Although Frank Tumwebaze did not formally write to the Kenyan government, he took to Twitter to complain to counterpart Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya for capping sugar Uganda imports. Tumwebaze faulted Kenya’s recent decision to cut sugar imports from Uganda by 79 %, which is likely to escalate the ongoing trade dispute between Nairobi and Kampala.
The minister warned if Kenya does nothing to remedy the situation on time, the move could potentially weaken the East Africa Community trade bloc as Uganda may be forced to take a similar route. “Don’t make this whole idea of the East Africa Community doubtable. Should we also start a board to restrict/give permits to Kenyan margarine and plastics? Yes, we could check on their standards too,” he threatened.
Kenyan traders are allowed to import 18,923 tonnes of sugar from Uganda as opposed to the 90,000 that the two neighbours had agreed on.
“Regarding Kenya’s restriction of Uganda’s sugar exports, Uganda shall export 90,000 tonnes of wholly originating sugar per annum. The findings of the ongoing sugar sector verification mission shall inform the implementation of this decision,” the ministers said in a joint statement. In April, Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina had met her Ugandan counterpart and agreed to let in 90,000 tonnes; the Kenyan government would, later on, publish a revised quota that will see Southern African countries account for the lion share of sugar import.