East African Fish Traders Decry Uganda's Non-Tariff Barriers

Fish traders and transporters from East African Community (EAC) member states are facing considerable difficulties conducting cross-border trade in Uganda. Concerns have been raised about what are described as significant non-tariff barriers, impacting the lucrative regional fish business.

Key issues highlighted include restrictive licensing requirements and movement limitations. Traders report challenges in obtaining necessary permits, often forcing them to rely on middlemen. These intermediaries allegedly charge exorbitant fees to facilitate market access, adding substantial costs to their operations.

These challenges were brought to the forefront during a recent cross-border fisheries stakeholder meeting in Jinja. Organized by Kilimo Trust under its Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries initiative, the meeting aimed to identify solutions for improving regional fish trade, with a special focus on supporting women and young entrepreneurs.

Research presented at the meeting indicated that while Africa’s fish sector holds immense economic potential, barriers hindering the participation of women and youth could stifle growth. Beyond licensing, the initiative is also addressing issues like sexual harassment and exploitation within the fisheries value chain, which disproportionately affect women and young traders at various stages, from landing sites to markets.

Traders from Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan shared their experiences. South Sudan, for instance, exports around 50 truckloads of fish monthly, but traders still struggle with market access. Ugandan traders lament the high cost and inaccessibility of licenses, with one trader citing a Shs10 million fee as unaffordable.

Kenyan traders echoed these sentiments, urging EAC partner states to fully implement free-trade agreements and remove restrictions on the movement of goods. There are also claims of fish consignments being confiscated under questionable circumstances.

In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries stated that its licensing system aims to promote organized trade. Officials clarified that licenses are issued to organized groups, such as registered companies and SACCOs, rather than individual traders, encouraging traders to form or join such entities. The meeting concluded with calls for better implementation of EAC trade protocols and measures to address the various challenges faced by traders.