THE East African Community (EAC) has abruptly suspended the high-level border sensitization and inspection mission which was planned at the Kenya and Tanzania One Stop Border Post of Namanga.

A statement released yesterday by EAC spokesperson, Simon Owaka, said the decision was taken due to some unforeseen circumstances.

Originally scheduled to take place on 19th April, 2024, the mission aimed to assess the performance of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), identify areas for improvement, and review the status of implementation of agreed action plans.

“While this postponement is regrettable, the EAC remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering regional cooperation and enhancing border efficiencies,” reads part of the statement, adding that the EAC was actively working to reschedule the mission, and the new dates will be announced in due course.

From previous visits at other borders, it was discovered that there was a significant increase of traffic across the Uganda and South-Sudan border, indicating the growing importance of efficient trade facilitation measures between the two East African countries.

Experts however point out the importance of consolidating various government agencies into one central location to expedite clearance times and simplify procedures for cross-border trade.

There are also some environmental factors. For instance, floods are reported to be frequently affecting the Elegu and Nimule precincts on either side of the territorial boundaries.

Government officials, trade and other stakeholders from Uganda and South Sudan recently convened at Nimule border for a high-level joint border sensitization mission focused on strengthening cross-border trade relations and fostering regional integration.

The mission provided a platform for in-depth discussions on various issues impacting trade between the two partner states, with a particular emphasis on the implementation of OSBP and other trade facilitation measures.

Despite progress, however, the mission discovered challenges such as differing operational hours and tax regimes, emphasizing the need for harmonization and coordination between border authorities to ensure smoother trade operations.

Dr Anne Itto, member of the East African Legislative Assembly, said that the community had put in place various initiatives to facilitate trade and regional integration and one stop border points take center stage.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of customs, trade and monetary affairs Annette Ssemuwemba said that the EAC Secretariat would work jointly with Uganda and South Sudan in the development of strategies aimed at transforming operations at the Elegu-Nimule border.