Ugandans urged to catch up as Kenyans dominate cross-border trade

Dr Joshua Mutambi, the commissioner of processing and marketing in the Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives warned on Friday, that the modern facilities such as markets along Uganda’sb rders are being dominated by foreigners.

He gave the example of the new Mpondwe cross-border market located in Kasese district, on the Uganda-DRC border, which he said is currently dominated by traders from Kenya and Tanzania.

“Imagine the Kenyans are crossing the border to come and take over our markets while you the Ugandans are out here crying about unemployment,” he said.

“We have very modern buildings at the Mpondwe market at the border and the demand for our goods is high. You just need to go there and start businesses; the security is guaranteed everything you need is there. We need to get access to these markets

Dr Mutambi was speaking at the 20th graduation of MTAC (Management Training and Advisory Centre) at its new campus in Ntungamo, where a total of 127 learners graduated in different areas of study.

Mpondwe cross-border market is about 59 kilometres from Kasese town in western Uganda. Other cross-border markets near Mpondwe include Kisenyi, Kitoma, Kabuyiri and Kamukumbi.

The market is served by a tarmac road (the Kikorongo-Bwera road) and good telecommunication facilities. The Uganda shillings, US Dollars and Congolese Francs are used as medium of exchange at the border and money conversion is done by the informal money changers.