It was tears of joy for Ugandan Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde when she recalled the tribulations she underwent in 1977 under the brutal Amin soldiers after arriving at the Busia border post with children goods she purchased in Kisumu, Kenya.
Speaking in broken Kiswahili during the commissioning of Busia One Stop Border Post, Kyambadde said she bought Cerelac, sugar and Nestle Lactogen for her children in Kisumu since they were not available in Ugandan shops then, due to poor regime.
"When I arrived at the Busia border in the Company of my husband, hell broke loose when the soldiers impounded my goods. ''Give us your sister we marry, she is very beautiful." they told my husband. I cried tears of sadness considering I left young children at home. Today I am crying tears of joy. I thank God for enabling me reach here to narrate the tribulations I encountered that time," she said.
Leaders including President Uhuru Kenyatta, his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni and Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong were moved by the Minister's confessions during the function at Busia Uganda.
The Minister said the East African Common Market Protocol had brought freedom of doing business, movement and love among residents of partner states.
Kyambadde said the OSBP had also helped promote women in cross border trade, adding that the border was currently registering 3324 traffic including 1784 trucks weekly.
"Tax regime has improved because of reliable data due to integrated system. Uganda has registered improved revenue of US dollars 300 million to USD1.5 billion between in her trade with Kenya," she said.
Commissioner of customs, Uganda Revenue Authority Dicksons Kateshumbwa, said cross border trade by small scale traders will not be treated as smuggling but will be facilitated to empower them.
Uganda acting Commissioner General Henry Sakwa said Busia and Malaba were the best performing border points in East Africa.