Several transport operators along Uganda to Kenya route, have decided to suspend their operations as Kenyans vote for their leaders on today. Tuesday 9th August, Kenyans go to polls.
Although the country didn’t close its borders, cargo and passenger transporters from Uganda are to wait to go across until the electoral process is concluded.
Charles Mwebembezi, the chairperson of the Uganda freight forwarders association, says that they are in fear because they don’t know what might happen before, during and after the elections.
According to Mwebembezi, the Kenyan government has assured them of security while in transit from the port to the point of exit, but he says they cannot take chances, based on the history of Kenyan polls, adding that though the port and borders are still open, they are not moving any cargo for at least three days, just to monitor the situations.
Kenneth Ayebare, the chairperson of the Uganda Cargo Consolidators Association, says under such unpredictable conditions, some cargo had started to go through the central corridor.
However, he says it is quite expensive and that the easier solution was to hold their operations than risk, adding that the last trucks they expect are those reaching the Ugandan border points today and that for any truck to move must have cargo insurance.
Ayebare said: “We have advised all our drivers to halt operations as we monitor the situation, and the last trucks we are expecting are those that reach Busia and Malaba today, while those in transit must have cargo insurance. Though the Kenya ports authority has promised to give us a waiver on demurrage for the time the country will be in elections, it’s just a promise which is not in writing.”
The situation is not different even for passenger transport service providers, and several key players in this sector have also halted operations till further notice.
Solomon Nsimire, the chairperson of the Uganda Bus Operators Association, says that as an association they did not come up with a common stand about the situation, and that the discussion was left to individual companies to take a stand.
