By Okong’o Oduya
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni jointly launched the Busia One Stop Border Post (OSBP) located on the Kenya-Uganda border that will ensue between the two countries.
The new post is expected to offer effective border control mechanisms that will boost trade by cutting the time taken to clear goods between the two nations and contribute to a reduction in transport cost while increasing volumes of transshipment cargo through the Central Corridor. It is expected that time to cross the border will reduce by at least a third.
Addressing the public at Busia border in Uganda during the official commissioning of Busia One Stop Border Post along Kenya- Uganda border president Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni emphasized the importance of the East African community working together to compete favorably with developed countries such as China, India, Japan among other countries in the world.
President Kenyatta commended TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) for its support to the government and underscored the importance of the OSBP saying, “This facility is an important link for ease of trade between our two countries. Uganda continues to be an important trading partner for Kenya.” Adding “Opportunities for increased trade and investment have been created. I am happy to hear that because of this OSBP here in Busia, our revenue authority has been able to collect more revenues, a clear indication of increased trade flows”
Uganda’s president Museveni thanked the British Government saying “Trade is a means that will help us create prosperity for the people. My government is committed to creating wealth and jobs for the people through the creation of enabling an environment for services, Information Communication Technology, commercial agriculture, and industries.”
Use of porous routes along the border was identified as major a challenge and impediments towards the secure borders since the officer tasked with responsibilities of putting to a stop the menace are mostly compromised, hence allowing goods to be smuggled across the border.
The chief executive officer Trade Mark East Africa Frank Metsaert noted that the facility will help in promoting the business within the two countries adding that as trade mark east Africa their aim is to promote prosperity within the region.
The Busia OSTB post was completed last years at amount of 13M US dollars is one of the thirteen border posts that have been constructed across the region including Mutukula in Uganda and one in Taveta Hulili along Kenya-Tanzania border while the one at Malaba in Busia County, Lunga Lunga, Horo Horo and Isbania along Kenya- Tanzania border still under construction.
“We are also going to be working with world bank to develop post at Moyale to the north, along Kenya and Ethiopia border, as Trade Mark East Africa we have so far invested 120M US dollar in upgrading the border post within the region and we plan to take some projects between Tanzania and Zambia then we cross to the West Africa,” Metsaert said
Adding “The independent survey has revealed that the time taken to clear cargo and people along the OSBP posts has reduced by 70% compared to the way things were 10 years ago” which according to TMEA was the greatest achievement for the region in terms of business transactions.
