Many Ugandan businesses are still challenged by the depression caused by the Kenyan elections of August 2017, our investigations can show. The political unrest that followed the elections is creating more uncertainty for businesses that rely on cross-border traffic.
Opposition politicians in Kenya, since the Supreme Court annulled the election results, have been demanding for reforms in the electoral commission. They have mobilized for these reforms through protests and demonstrations and this has put the nation in a tense atmosphere.
The impasses continues to affect businesses in the region because Kenya is a major import route for the landlocked countries of the region.
Simba coaches
According to Tumusiime Evelyne the manager of Simba coaches-Namayiba park, there was a work break for the four days during elections due to lack of customers travelling to Kenya due to fear of insecurity. Speaking on the same matter, Asiimwe Shafik the manager of Simba Luxury coaches noted that security at the border was made stringent which delayed travel and transportation of cargo.
“Buses spend more hours in check lines and now coaches take long to get to Kenya,” says Asiimwe.
The businesses that have found it easier were those that anticipated the challenges and planned ahead.
Micheal Kisakye the manager of Dream buses says their work is not affected much for they had prepared for this election time. However, they live in fear that these demonstrations in Kenya are likely to continue which could affect their work. Stellah Maris, the station manager of Oryx energies in Uganda says that their plants are in Nairobi and the political environment in Kenya has caused shortages in both lubricants and petroleum because of limited transportation due to insecurity. She adds that this has made oil expensive where premium petro increased from UGshs3370 to UGshs3420 per litre, Diesel from Ushs 2950 to UShs3000 per litre.
“This has reduced the number of customers and some customers turned to other petrol stations whose prices are not ever changing,”says Maris.
At Shell Nakulabye, the Station Manager says the station prepared for the election time by stocking enough petroleum to supply during the time of elections but still they have went short of petroleum due to the continuous political unrests in Kenya. The manager
adds that they have resorted to Tanzania routes to import oil which is very costly.
Kenya has had tense electoral periods since a bitter dispute over the presidential poll in 2007 led to the break out of electoral violence lasting for at least a month. The violence left more than 1,000 people dead. While the 2012 polls were peaceful, the 2017 polls remain uncertain.After an annulment of the last poll results, Kenya is expected to re-elect a president on October 26,2017 as it was ruled by the Supreme Court in September. The opposition candidate Raila Odinga has pulled out of the race whereas a senior member of the electoral body has resigned, placing more doubts about the stability of the polls period.
