Summary: Strategic ICT upgrades and synchronized customs inspections at the Busia One-Stop Border Post have drastically reduced cargo clearance times for East African transporters.
Traders and freight forwarders operating along the busy Northern Corridor transit route through Busia are experiencing unprecedented efficiency following the operationalisation of upgraded ICT customs platforms at the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP).
Average cargo clearance times for heavy commercial trucks crossing between Kenya and Uganda have dropped from 14 hours down to under 4 hours. The improvement is attributed to the deployment of unified electronic cargo tracking systems (ECTS), automated non-intrusive x-ray scanners, and joint agency verification desks.
Busia cross-border traders’ associations have lauded the interventions, noting that reduced demurrage costs and eliminated paperwork bottlenecks have significantly lowered the cost of fast-moving consumer goods traded across the border. Business volumes are projected to rise significantly ahead of the peak festive import season.
