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Uganda: Kacita Demands Sh20b From Kenya
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New Vision (Kampala)
26 March 2008
Posted to the web 27 March 2008
Patrick Jaramogi
Kampala
KAMPALA city traders are demanding over sh20b from the Kenyan government as compensation for goods lost and damaged during the post-election violence.
The traders, through Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), have given the Kenyan government a two-week ultimatum to heed or they disown the East African Customs Union.
"We are still compiling the list from affected traders. The estimates are sh20b from about 23 traders who lost vehicles and containers," KACITA's spokesman Issa Ssekitto said.
He said on top of losing their goods, some traders had been subjected to inhuman treatment.
"Even after the violence receded, for the last two weeks, we have received complaints of vandalism and theft of property from over 20 traders," Ssekitto said.
"We shall forward the list to the Kenyan High Commission in Kampala for submission to the Kenyan government."
"If the traders are not compensated, we shall disown the customs union and seek alternative routes to import and export our goods."
He pointed out that it was unfortunate that despite Uganda being a member of the East African Community, her traders cannot be granted security during violence.
Ssekitto said most traders were dismayed with the Kenyan authorities after their containers and vehicles were vandalised and looted by people he described as "rowdy gangs."
"Kenya is richer than us but they also rely on us. We don't want to be richer than them neither do we want to be poorer than we were," he said.
"It is even sad that the demurrage waiver that was announced by the Kenyan authorities was not honoured."
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He urged Ugandan traders to insure their goods, pointing out that taking risks does not pay in this modern era.
An official from the Kenyan High Commission said: We acknowledged that some traders lost goods and met undue suffering. Provisions have been put in place by the government to consider compensation."
The violence that engulfed East Africa's most prosperous nation left at least 1,000 people dead and 250,000 displaced. It greatly disrupted supplies of goods to countries that depend on Mombasa to import their goods.
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