Ugandan female cross border traders cry out over trade huddles

By Gideon Peter Ssebulime

5^th May 2021

Ugandan women engaged in cross border trade are decrying the huge existing trade huddles which are almost getting them out of cross border business.

In a two days budget advocacy workshop on taxation and trade facilitation for women cross border traders organized by Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), business women from across the country are sighting heavy taxes among other non tariff barriers as being part of the huge challenges threatening their existence in cross border trade.

However, Mariam Babu a cross border trader dealing in eggs at Busia border point wants government to come out clear on which taxes to be paid and on the exact goods as this will save women traders from extortion.

But Brenda Kabasinguzi a senior commercial officer in ministry of trade and coops together with Victoria Nabitaka Makumbi the assistant commissioner customs at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) confirm that government with development partners are working on setting up more better strategies to improve or cater for women engaging in cross border trade.

Statistics from the trade ministry indicates that 40% of all intra regional trade is cross border trade encompassing 70% of women.