Dorothy Nakaweesi
26 February 2008
Kampala — UGANDAN truck owners whose vehicles were burnt or destroyed during the post-election political crisis in Kenya want the Kenyan government to compensate them for the losses.
At least over 20 trucks carrying fuel while on transit from Mombasa to Uganda were attacked by Kenyan rioters and completely destroyed.
Mr Godfrey Hategyeka, the acting secretary general of Uganda Commercial Truck Owners Association (UCTOA), in an interview with Business Power, said:
"We have written to the Kenyan government through the ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring attention to this matter before their counterparts to compensate".
Losses
He said the UCTOA association members lost close to Shs5 billion.
Some of the business people who lost their trucks and goods included Kampala businessman Godfrey Kirumira of Gelp Petroleum, Uganda Transport Association (UTA) which transports fuel for Shell, Intraspeed, Katraco (U) Limited.
"Insurance companies are telling us that they don't have a premium for losses incurred during civil disorders. This means that they will not be able to compensate," Mr Hategyeka said.
In similar scenario, Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) in January expressed dismay over failure by the insurance companies to compensate the losses they incurred.
UMA members' 15 trucks too were burnt and at least 32 tonnes of wheat looted.
Manufacturers
The Acting Executive Director of Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Mr Bruno Emwanu, said: "Our members' raw materials and properties were burnt and stolen on route from Mombasa. But to our disappointment the Insurance companies are not covering these risks".
Compensation
However, the Chairman Uganda Insurance Association and also who serves as the General Manager of Gold Star Insurance Company, Mr Solomon Rubondo, said: "If the businessmen were insured under the Marine policy, compensation will be done".
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