A network outage at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has severely disrupted cross-border trade, leaving hundreds of trucks stranded at the Busia, Malaba, and Lwakhakha border points.
The breakdown, now in its second week, has caused massive congestion and economic losses, impacting both imports and exports.
At the Busia border, trucks stretch five kilometers along the Busia-Jinja Highway, while Malaba faces even worse congestion, with a queue averaging seven kilometers along the Malaba-Bugiri Highway. These routes are critical for trade across Uganda, DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan.
Charles Basumba, Regional Manager of Customs Eastern Region, acknowledged the slow movement of trucks and assured stakeholders that efforts are underway to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Godson Tumwesigye attributed the delays to unstable network connectivity, which has hampered tax and road fee payments for foreign-registered vehicles.
The disruptions are causing significant challenges for transporters and clearing agents.
Both the KRA and Uganda Revenue Authority are working to resolve the crisis, but stakeholders are calling for urgent government intervention to minimize losses and prevent further disruptions.
