19 Milk Trucks Sent Back to Uganda from Kenya

At least 19 trucks carrying powdered and UHT milk worth more than Sh27 million (Ush1.1 billion) have been diverted and returned back to Uganda.

According to an internal memo by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the milk trucks were returned to Uganda or diverted by Kenyan authorities on different dates and the goods were later taken into custody in Kenya.

URA sources that requested anonymity said that Ugandan goods are seized by Kenya’s inland police once in the country in spite of them being cleared by the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service and most especially the milk.

“Police are removing milk from the market and stopping new supplies. No one is providing an explanation,” said source.

The Kenya Trade Ministry commissioner for external trade, Emmanuel Mutahunga, said on Wednesday that Kenyan authorities had informed Uganda that they were going to send back the milk.

He realized that the matter had however reached political level and it would be handled diplomatically.

The Private Sector Foundation Uganda executive director, Mr Gideon Badagawa, said on Wednesday that whereas he was not aware of the milk diversions, there was a breakdown in communication between Ugandan and Kenyan authorities.

Mr. Badagawa said, “We see a breakdown in the communication to the relevant technical authorities and this could be the reason why all this is happening,”

Although Uganda may not be tempted to retaliate, concerns are being aired by experts on the damage which such a move is capable of causing towards the EAC (East African Community)