Oil tankers delivering fuel to Uganda queue at the Busia border. Kenyan
truck drivers and transport companies have protested a decision by the
Ugandan government to stop them at entry points and make them hand over
to Ugandan drivers. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenyan truck drivers and transport companies have protested a
decision by the Ugandan government to stop them at entry points and make
them hand over to Ugandan drivers.
The proposal will
see Ugandan drivers deliver the cargo to its final destination within
the country or hand it over to another driver in case the truck is still
on transit.
The decision follows a spike in the number
of foreign truck drivers testing positive for Covid-19. This has raised
fears that while Ugandans have been locked in their homes, foreign
truck drivers have become the real threat to efforts to combat the
Covid-19 pandemic.
RECRUIT UGANDAN DRIVERS
On
Friday, Ms Robinah Nabbanja, the State minister for Health in charge of
general duties, said the Ugandan government had asked companies to
recruit local drivers within three weeks to implement the new
directives.
“They can have a chance to recruit Ugandan
drivers and other country drivers because they (companies) had one, two
or three drivers…..our policy now requires that when you come to the
border, the vehicle continues with another driver,” she said.
However, members of a Kenyan transporters association have
protested the decision saying it will raise the cost of transporting
goods. They have also said that the security of goods and trucks will be
compromised.
ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
“This
would drastically increase the cost of transportation to the trucking
companies while the business has been affected due to reduced cargo
volumes and longer transit times. Transporters would also incur
additional expenses in providing accommodation for additional drivers,” a
petition signed by Ms Mercy Ireri, the chief operating officer of Kenya
Transporters Association reads.
Ms Ireri said they
have instructed their members to adhere to all regulations enacted by
regional governments in the fight against the coronavirus by providing
face masks to the truck drivers, sanitisers, handwashing soap and water
as they travel.
“The drivers are under firm
instructions not to carry any passengers on the way, sanitise after
handling any documents which should be done while wearing gloves. Most
importantly, the drivers are under instructions to self-quarantine
within their trucks to avoid interactions while undertaking a trip to a
given destination,” she said.
CARGO SAFETY
She said the security and safety of the cargo would be compromised by using multiple drivers in a single haulage.
Ms
Ireri added that the changeover of drivers would create inefficiencies
and that truckers would face challenges in tracing drivers’
responsibilities on truck misuse, damages and theft of fuel.
She
also said the relay driving would raise insurance challenges as any
accident or theft would likely be challenged by the insuring companies.
Uganda is yet respond to the petition.
Attempts
to get a clarification from Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde on how her
ministry will respond to the petition were not successful.
Gen
Jeje Odongo, the Minister for Internal Affairs, and Gen Katumba Wamala,
the Works minister, did not respond to repeated calls from the Daily Monitor.
MANDATORY TESTING
The Kenyan truckers association has proposed that drivers undergo mandatory Covid-19 tests at the border.
According
to the proposal, if a driver is found to be Covid-19 negative, he or
she should be allowed to proceed with the trip to its destination while
those who test positive should be put in isolation in accordance to the
World Health Organisation regulations. The transporting company should
be informed to make arrangements for another driver to proceed with the
journey after undergoing Covid-19 testing.
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