The government of Kenya has agreed to lift barriers that hindered the sale of poultry products from Uganda, a move that will also see Kampala delay its proposed retaliation ban on Kenya’s agricultural produce.
The move follows bilateral talks held between Agriculture ministers from the two countries. In a joint communique sent to newsrooms, the two neighbouring countries said they would not impose restrictions on poultry as they work out a long-term policy deal to eliminate trade barriers. The sale of poultry products has been the most contentious in a longstanding trade spat that also includes a ban on Uganda dairy products in Kenya since 2019.
At the meeting Nairobi insisted on conducting another round of inspection on milk processing chains in Uganda to verify quality and determine whether the milk was locally produced.
Kenya’s Agriculture Secretary Peter Munya and his Trade counterpart Betty Maina met Ugandan Minister for Agriculture Frank Tumwebaze. They agreed “to immediately remove any administrative measures that have hitherto inhibited trade in poultry and poultry products,” the joint statement said.
Restrictive levies
The two sides also agreed to remove restrictive levies that violate the East African Community (EAC) Customs Union Protocol by July next year, reiterating a declaration they had made in April this year.
The decision means Kenya will now allow the sale of Ugandan eggs, chicks and chicken, which it had restricted in February this year ostensibly to protect Kenyan farmers and enable them to recover from Covid-19 disruptions. It also means Uganda will stay its decision to impose retaliatory restrictions on Kenyan agricultural produce until the end of January.
Last week, Kampala said it was listing agricultural goods from Kenya that would be refused market in Uganda as a protest against Nairobi’s continual ban on its agricultural produce, including poultry, milk and sugar.
