Trade talks aimed at resolving the outstanding issues on milk importation between Uganda and Kenya are set to start in March after many false starts. Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Livestock Harry Kimtai said Nairobi has already communicated to Kampala, through its foreign affairs office. Mr Kimtai, who is the head of the Kenyan delegation, said they are reviewing guidelines issued by Uganda. “We have agreed with Uganda that we will visit the country next month for a verification mission that will help us resolve the outstanding issues on milk once and for all,” said Mr Kimtai.
Kenya wants to ascertain that the milk that comes from Uganda is produced by local farmers, following allegations that the product is imported from third-party countries as powder and reconstituted before it is exported as fresh. The meeting by the Kenya delegation to Uganda has been postponed four times in the past year, delaying the resumption of normal trade on dairy products between the two countries.