TOP STORY: Kenya, Uganda Strike Landmark Deal to Eliminate Trade Barriers
NATIONAL — In a significant step toward regional integration, the governments of Kenya and Uganda have officially agreed to eliminate all existing tariff and non-tariff barriers that have long impeded trade between the two countries.
Announced on Saturday afternoon, August 30, 2025, Kenya’s Trade Cabinet Secretary, Lee Kinyanjui, confirmed the two nations will now fully implement all trade-related commitments under the East African Community (EAC) treaty and protocols.
The agreement, reached in partnership with Uganda’s Minister for Trade, Wilson Mbasu, includes a joint effort to ease congestion at major border points — including Malaba, Busia, Suam, and Lwakhakha — to allow for the smoother flow of goods, services, and people across the two countries.
This breakthrough follows a directive by Presidents William Ruto of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda during a bilateral summit held in Nairobi on July 30–31, 2025. During the meeting, both leaders acknowledged that persistent trade barriers among EAC member states have significantly undermined regional economic growth.
In a joint statement on July 31, Ruto and Museveni criticized the slow implementation of the EAC’s open market agreements and pledged to take decisive steps to accelerate economic integration. The summit concluded with the signing of eight agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation in key sectors such as trade, tourism, agriculture, mining, fisheries, and infrastructure development — including the advancement of the Greater Busia metro region.
“We are united in our commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and delivering shared prosperity, while working together towards a stronger and integrated region,” President Ruto said.
As part of the expanded cooperation framework, Kenya also briefed Uganda on the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Malaba, and onward into Uganda. Additionally, the dualling of the Rironi–Mau Summit highway — expected to connect directly to Malaba — is set to ease transport and logistics between the two nations.
The agricultural sector will also see closer collaboration under a new MoU aimed at strengthening veterinary services and enhancing regional food security.
This agreement marks a major milestone in East Africa’s journey toward seamless trade, deeper integration, and shared economic growth.
