Ugandan Poultry Farmers under their Umbrella, Poultry Association of Uganda (PAU), have cried for government’s intervention after the Kenyan government banned the import of Ugandan eggs.
Speaking to reporters at the Uganda Manufacturers Association Grounds, Lugogo Kampala, Peter Ssenkungu the PAU Secretary-General, asked president Museveni to urgently intervene and discuss the issue with his Kenyan counterpart, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ssenkungu said that they have reached out to the ministers of trade and agriculture but all efforts have been in vain.
“We have engaged the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Trade but they have not helped us, nothing has happened, that’s why we are calling for the presidents immediate intervention,” he said.
Adding, “We need urgent help because we deal with perishable goods.”
Ssenkungu said on top of closing the markets, they are losing over Shs 6 billion daily.
“We produce over 3million eggs a day that’s around shs 6 billion, but the market which consumes over 70% of this, is closed, just look at the losses, and If a Ugandan truck is impounded in Kenya, it is fined up to UGX 32 million,” he said.
Ssenkungu said If the government does not intervene, banks will take their properties which will lead to the collapse of the poultry sector.
Uganda exports up to 70 per cent of the poultry of all products to Kenya, Only 20 per cent is consumed locally, and the remaining 10% is exported to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Siraje Sserunkuma, a leader in the poultry association revealed that the ban will have an impact on poultry because the ultimate price of chicken, and eggs in the country on top of the high feed costs, has already slowed so low, with a tray of eggs costing 6000.
Charles Jaggwe, a poultry farmer who is counting losses said, he is worried and burdened by the ban
“If you put up something like closing off borders it means the demand for eggs from such a farm is going to reduce. For example, if you produce 100 trays plus, it means you won’t sale any and won’t be able to maintain business,” he said.
He also explains that before the ban on poultry products, he used to earn 4.5 million shillings daily but his revenues have dropped to 950,000 shillings.
JB Wasswa, a poultry farmer, based in Mpigi, said the sector has held the economy for a long period by buying maize, brand, employing people but the price of feeds and other inputs is high up there.
Industry experts say Kenya’s behaviour shows that protectionisms are still in existence even when regional heads of state are advocating for economic integration.
The latest hostilities began brewing in December 2019, when Kenya stopped importing Ugandan milk.
In July 2020, the country followed up with a ban on Ugandan sugar, contravening an earlier agreement to increase Uganda’s sugar exports to Kenya.
These moves came as Uganda stepped up its capacity to manufacture and process goods traditionally imported from Kenya.
Kenya denied Ugandan lawmakers’ charges that it was acting to protect its local markets, insisting that it was suspicious of the quality of the Ugandan exports and doubted whether the country met food safety control standards.
The authorities also confiscated Uganda’s milk exports including milk powder and long-life milk for “verification checks.”
Observers have pointed out that the restrictions go against a Customs Union Protocol established by the East African Community (EAC) single market.
Both countries are part of the EAC alongside Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan.
Another concern is that the trade row has also led to a rise in non-tariff barriers between the EAC member states.
