Road transport rates are high in E.Africa

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Road transport rates per container in East Africa remains higher than the global average impacting trade and investments in the region, according to Pauline Ukwalu from the Shippers Council of East Africa.

Ukwalu, who spoke during the East African Business Council (EABC) webinar on April.25, rates per container per kilometer from Mombasa to various cities such as Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Goma, and Juba range between USD 1.88 and USD 3, notably higher than the global benchmark of USD 1.

She also pointed out the inefficiencies at the Port of Mombasa, where the average ship turnaround time is 79 hours—far exceeding the global average of 24 hours. Transit times to Busia and Malaba also surpass the targets set by the Mombasa Port and Northern Corridor Charter.

However, Emmanuel Rutagengwa, from the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), reported significant improvements at Dar es Salaam Port, where enhancements have reduced ship turnaround and cargo dwell times substantially, and increased cargo throughput.

Dr. Merian Sebunya, Chairperson of the National Logistics Platform, Uganda, emphasized the detrimental impact of high transport costs and inadequate infrastructure on businesses. She advocated for more effective collaboration among public trade facilitation agencies to enhance corridor performance.

The webinar brought together over 100 stakeholders from various sectors across the EAC and beyond, highlighting the need to address challenges in regional transport logistics.