Business 19 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kenyan Fish Exporters Threaten Border Blockade Over Delayed Shs22 Billion Compensation
Kenyan traders are threatening to block Ugandan border crossings if the government fails to release Shs22 billion in compensation for fish impounded and destroyed by Ugandan authorities nearly five years ago. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/kenyan-traders-threaten-border-blockade-as-uganda-delays-shs22b-compensation-for-impounded-fish-5564078
Kenyan fish traders are escalating their demands for compensation from Uganda, threatening to disrupt cross-border trade if a Shs22 billion payment for impounded fish is not settled.
The dispute dates back to October 2021 when Uganda’s Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) seized four trucks carrying fish valued at over Shs2.7 billion near the Mpondwe border post. The FPU claimed the cargo consisted of immature fish smuggled from Uganda’s Lake Kyoga and repackaged in Kenya.
However, the Kenyan exporters maintain that the fish originated from Kenya’s Lake Turkana and was merely transiting through Uganda en route to the Democratic Republic of Congo. They argue that the confiscation and destruction of the cargo violated international transit laws.
Hassan Omari, chairman of the Busia Kenya Fish Transshipment Market, criticized the Ugandan authorities’ actions, highlighting that Ugandan goods frequently transit through Kenya without issue. “We pleaded with Ugandan authorities not to dispose of the fish, but they did not heed our pleas,” Omari stated.
A joint verification team, including officials from both Kenya and Uganda, later confirmed that the confiscated sun-dried fish, which included Nile tilapia, tiger fish, and dwarf Nile perch, indeed originated from Kenya. Following this confirmation, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was directed to formally seek reparations.
Despite these findings and the years that have passed, affected traders report that Uganda has yet to disburse the compensation, which includes damages. The financial repercussions have been severe, with some traders facing business collapse, property repossession, and significant stress. Ruben Hayofu, one of the affected exporters, warned that frustrated traders are contemplating forcibly closing the Busia and Malaba border posts to halt Ugandan transit cargo.
“The financial strain has forced several peers out of business, caused property foreclosures by banks, and led to stress-induced deaths among affected members,” Hayofu added. Some traders, like Violet Owoko, have been forced to abandon international trade altogether due to the loss of capital.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)