Ugandan government has reiterated its commitment to revive Lake Victoria water transport operations between Uganda and Tanzania in order to lower transportation costs between the two countries.
Ugandan Minister of State for Transport Mr Aggrey Bagiire said this after meeting the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General, Deusdedit Kakoko when the later paid a courtesy call at his office.
According to a statement from Tanzania Ports Authority, the Ugandan minister said they were committed to raise the volumes going through the lake to twenty percent in the next two years by improving ship operations, port and rail infrastructures at Port Bell and the new port of Bukasa which will be built in Kampala.
“It is a directive from Uganda higher authorities that people and goods need to move quickly and cheaply in order to reduce the costs of doing business,” he said adding that implementation of this directive has started by holding technical meetings between the two ministries of Uganda and Tanzania and the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA).
The Minister called for activation of the rail route between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. On his part, the TPA Director General said Dar es Salaam- Mwanza route has been revamped by increasing number of wagons and locomotives.
He said the government of Tanzania has secured funds to construct a standard gauge rail system which is now on tender process. “Construction of the rail is expected to be completed in the next three years,” he noted.
He said, once completed, the project will boost the amount of cargo transported through the central corridor and therefore increase the competitive edge of Dar es Salaam port.
He explained that is now embarking on human resources change of mind set to be more customer-focused, increase usage of Information Technology (IT) in documentation processes in order to speed up clearance of goods, enhanced security, investment in infrastructure and marketing of TPA services. The Director General called upon Uganda customers to use Dar es Salaam port.
“The decision to use the central corridor route should base on efficiency, time, cost and convenience… Dar port and the central corridor at large has the competence to serve Uganda than any other port,” he noted.
Also Engineer Kakoko told Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) that there have been a lot of improvements on the Tanzania roads especially the Mutukula route which is all tarmac to Uganda, hence reducing the transit time to three days.
Members of the Association called on removal of Non- Tariff Barriers (NTBs) along the central corridor roads to allow timely and free movement of goods. The Director General assured the association to direct all their concerns beyond his power of delegation to the relevant authorities for action.
Apart from the one-on-one marketing visit TPA also took part at the 24th Uganda International Trade Fair to showcase its activities.
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