Government Moves to Resolve Kenya’s Ban on Uganda’s Poultry Products

Government is on the move to resolve Kenya's ban on the importation of poultry products from Uganda. The ban on Uganda’s poultry products is the most recent in the series of trade embargos that Kenya has charged on her neighbouring counterparts. Kenya has in recent times banned the importation of maizes, milk and beef from Uganda.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister in charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Justine Kasule Lumumba, said that Uganda's ministers are currently meeting to resolve the matter.

“This issue has been brought to the attention of government and as I speak, a meeting is going on under the chair of Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs together with the Ministers of Agriculture and Trade,” Lumumba said.

Kiwanuka Abdallah, Mukono County North MP who raised this matter of National Importance expressed fear that Ugandan farmers are counting losses for failure to export their perishable poultry products to neighbouring Kenya in defiance with the East African Federation and Open market Protocol. He appealed that Government responds in equal measure by restricting the importation of some of Kenya’s products in the country.

“Government should come in and engage the government of Kenya to agree on various products which can enter into open market protocol. If these engagements fail, then our government should in retaliation equally ban Kenya’s products. It is unfortunate that Kenya exports more chicks to Uganda, but when it comes to Uganda exporting then there is a ban,” Kiwanuka said.

Lumumba requested for up to tomorrow, Wednesday, 15, December, 2021 to provide a statement on the floor of Parliament arising from the ongoing discussions.

“Discussions are on because if we are to integrate then we must work together. This matter is affecting our farmers because 70 per cent of eggs are exported to Kenya, while 80 percent of chicks used here [in Uganda] are supplied by Kenya, So, this concerns us all, but the government is handling the matter,” she said.

In March, 2021, the Kenyan Government issued a ban on the importation of maize from Uganda saying that maize from Uganda and Tanzania contains substances that cause cancer.