By Mukembo Wilfred
Misery and woes due to heavy losses suffered by traders in the carrots business have for long been the order of the day whenever a truck full of Carrots crossed from Kenya to Uganda.
The Ugandan carrots dealers especially those importing from Kenya have pointed out the extreme exploitation they are subjected to by the Kenyan exporters through a number of trucks.
First, they normally charge their carrots highly but load trucks with very poor quality some times completely Rotten and deliver the pure quality to other countries.
They deal with UN authorized agents or brokers leaving who also bring carrots to the markets and sell extremely at lower prices outcompeting the genuine dealers who already bought the carrots at a high price subjecting them to heavy losses.
It’s on this background that the carrots dealers sought government intervention over the growing vices that could have them exit from business.
In the same way they have taken other vigorous steps including strengthening their joint body Federation of Uganda Carrots and Fresh Foods Producers and installing new leadership CEC members team of over 30 people held by Watuwa Ezra as president for a term of 2 years.
Under this leadership they have held several consultative meetings with a numbers of stake holders including the youths, elderly and women and the truck drivers who have all resolved on common issues like following a strict schedule and fixed number of 45 entering market every week.
Traders embrace working in groupage where one person leads a truck with over 5 members each having produce on board with limited number of bags and all traders resolved that every member has to import once in a week to create demand.
According to Watuwa Ezra president Federation of Uganda Carrots and fresh foods limited this will increase sales and high demand and also block all avenues that were used by Kenyan self seekers and their agents who had turned our market into dustbins where they dump all the faaji and poor-quality produce especially carrots, mangoes etc.
He added that it’s now time to work strictly with those Kenyan companies thoroughly registered in the business, no brokers, no agents and all transactions will closely be monitored by Kaiwatu link the official clearing agent for produces imports in Uganda according to the operating memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
It’s on this ground that the Uganda government through ministry of trade and Uganda national beaural of standards have today started implementing strong and strict guidelines to safe guard the fresh produces business in the country.
Among the guidelines are, to do 100% Inspection of all Fresh Produce coming into the country Starting 14th April 2025.
According to Mukiibi … Inspector of crops and certification busia ministry of agriculture “Every shipment starting Monday, shall Physically be Verify before it exits the yard.
This also means that starting Monday 14th April 2025, All Fresh Produce consignments shall have their respective documents shared via mail together with Commitment form and after physical Inspection, that’s when the cargo will be released.
And therefore, the cargo that will arrive when UNBS office is closed, the shipment will be put to blue to allow exit from Kenya to Uganda but Client/Importer is not expected to deliver the cargo before its inspected the Next day when office is open.
He adds, that’s why you will be required to sign commitment form and once the goods are delivered when in Blue Lane of UNBS, the Importer will be liable for penalties.”
Now the next engagement is expected to combine all actors in the business from the two countries Uganda and Kenya for each team to assure its commitment to the working terms and conditions for the smooth running of the business.
If these guidelines are clearly implemented the Ugandan carrots and fresh produce dealers may seize to operate into losses.
