The Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry has urged the business community to be vigilant in reporting cases of Non Trade Barriers to the National Monitoring Committee on NTBs if the government is to effectively deal with the challenge of Non Trade Barriers in the country.

After the opening of borders following the start of the operation of the East African Common Market, trade across the East African borders is expected to be smoothened but one of the few challenges that is set to face the smooth running of trade across such borders are the NTBs.

Trade Minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafire

The Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafire has told journalists in Kampala that a form for reporting NTBs has been designed and put at various points in the business community for the business people to pick and fill at their convenience.

He says for instance the forms are available in most District Commercial Offices especially those districts that share a boarder with an East African Community member state (Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania). Burundi the other EAC member state does not share a border with Uganda.

The ministry meanwhile is working with the ministries of trade in other African countries to work on the removal of some of the identified NTBs.

Some of these NTBs include, existence of numerous institutions involved in testing of goods imported into or exported out of the country, existence of several weighbridge stations along the Central and Northern corridors and several road blocks along such corridors.

Non Tariff Barriers are usually administrative and procedural practices that impede smooth flow of trade.

By Tiberindwa Zakaria, Ultimate Media