Kenya and Uganda move to decongest Busia and Malaba border posts
By Mustafa Juma, August 29, 2025Kenya and Uganda have launched joint measures to ease congestion at the Malaba and Busia One-Stop Border Posts, which have been choking cross-border trade due to persistent delays.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Lee Kinyanjui, and Uganda’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Wilson Mbadi, on Friday, August 29, 2025, toured the two border points to assess the situation and identify causes of the bottlenecks.
“Congestion at the Kenya–Uganda border is hurting businesses on both sides. Today, together with Hon. Gen. Wilson Mbadi, Uganda’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, we inspected the Malaba and Busia One-Stop Border Posts to identify the causes of persistent delays,” CS Lee said in a statement shared via his official X account on Friday, August 29, 2025, after the inspection.
Businesses hurt
The two leaders said the gridlock has been hurting businesses on both sides of the border and undermining the free flow of goods and people within the East African Community (EAC).
“We have directed our teams to act in full coordination to decongest the borders and restore smooth movement of goods and people, true to the spirit of the EAC. These border points are vital lifelines for cross-border trade with Uganda and the wider region. We were joined by PS Trade, Regina Ombam, and PS Industry, Dr. Juma Mukhwana,” CS Lee stated.
The Busia and Malaba border points are among the busiest in East Africa, serving as vital arteries for regional trade between Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and beyond.
Traders have long complained of slow clearance, multiple checks, and poor coordination between agencies as key causes of congestion.
PS Trade Regina Ombam and PS Industry Dr Juma Mukhwana accompanied the ministers during the tour.
The officials pledged to implement short-term and long-term measures, including harmonised customs processes, improved infrastructure, and enhanced collaboration among border agencies.