The governments of Kenya and Uganda have inked a bilateral agreement that will facilitate the smooth flow of fish exports from Lake Turkana to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
A delegation from Kenya and Uganda led by Kenya Fisheries Principal Secretary Francis Owino and his Ugandan Agriculture counterpart Maj Gen David Kyomukama Saturday witnessed the flagging off of the first trucks at the Busia Customs point in Uganda.
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“Today, we have made a major step forward for the Fisheries sub-sector. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with our Kenyan counterparts that will allow smooth transit of Fish from Lake turkana in Kenya through Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo. We believe that the smooth trade in fish from Lake Turkana, through Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo will not only increase the incomes of traders in the fish and fish products but also contribute to the economies of the 3 countries and East Africa as a region,” said Kyomukama.
Fish exports
Trade-in fish exports to DRC have been going on for many decades though, with intermittent disruptions occasioned by a misunderstanding between Kenya and Uganda on the source of the fish.
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The signing of the framework eases the transportation of the commodity through Uganda to DRC without interference. Kenyan fish traders operating in Busia town export fish to eastern parts of upper DR Congo that border Uganda. Their exports end up in Bukavu, Kisangani, Goma and other eastern DR Congo cities.
