Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi has called for a conclusive position on the non-tariff barriers between Kenya and Uganda.
Mudavadi regretted that issues on non-tariff barriers have been hampering cross-border trade between the two countries and called for not only extensive discussions but also a conclusive position to enable augmentation of bilateral trade.
Mudavadi, who is also the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, was speaking during the second session of Kenya-Uganda Joint Ministerial Commission for Cooperation (JMC) hosted by his Uganda counterpart, Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar in Kampala.
“I urge both teams to continue working diligently to ensure that our political, economic and socio-cultural cooperation is deepened to achieve win-win growth,” said Mudavadi.
The CS also emphasized on the need to urgently address other outstanding issues relating to immigration, boundary reaffirmation which has progressed at a slow pace due to funding challenges, thus impacting on programme of action, and other cross border matters.
“I am confident we shall reach an agreement on these important instruments for enhancing our cooperation,” he affirmed.
He said it is critical for the two countries to come up with an action plan that has a realistic time frame and an inbuilt monitoring and evaluation mechanism to guide the implementation process.
Mudavadi said respective diplomatic missions and Foreign Affairs Ministries will be entrusted to engage in regular consultations on implementation of all agreed decisions.
Over the years, Mudavadi said Uganda and Kenya enjoy warm and cordial relations, adding that the latter considers JMC a testament of continued commitment to consolidate and strengthen these relations.
” I am confident that our deliberations during this JMC will further anchor our existing relations espoused by a rich historical background,” he added.
Similarly, he said the two countries have demonstrated remarkable social and economic interlinkages that have yielded rapid transformation in both economies. He said profound friendship between the two countries is the cornerstone of shared socio-economic endeavors that will propel national development programmes and the African Union Agenda 2063 to realize the aspirations of the people.
He said Principal Secretaries and senior officials have been able to undertake a review of the commitments agreed during the Inaugural JMC held in Nairobi in March 2019, a session which provided an opportunity to assess and consolidate the gains made in the implementation of agreed resolutions.
The technical technical teams from both countries have also managed to address any obstacles to the cooperation and also engaged in discussions towards collaboration in diverse areas.
He termed the bilateral exercise as important since it precedes the official State Visit by Uganda President, Yoweri Museveni to Kenya from May 15 – 17. Mudavadi said the State Visit will afford the two countries an opportunity to exchange views and review progress of the many bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Meanwhile, Mudavadi lauded Uganda for releasing 32 Turkana herdsmen that were arrested on April last year for being in possession of illegal firearms.
The gesture by the Uganda Government underscores commitment in building our relations to deeper levels,” said the CS.
