The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) announced an immediate and indefinite ban on all Ugandan dairy product imports on Monday, citing "unresolved sanitary and phytosanitary concerns." Uganda's Ministry of Trade has condemned the move as a blatant violation of the East African Community Common Market Protocol.
"This is protectionism, not public health," said Uganda's Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde. "Our dairy products meet every international standard. We are filing a formal complaint with the EAC Secretariat in Arusha."
Uganda exports approximately $120 million in dairy products annually, with Kenya being the largest market (40%). The ban threatens the livelihoods of over 200,000 smallholder dairy farmers across Western Uganda.
