Recommendations from  Transport Observatory Reports

Sensitisation of truckers through issuance of information brochures and on official charges

Most truckers are aware of current charges, but always get unawares when new charges are introduced

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA to work closely with stakeholders and device means of sharing information with stakeholders efficiently and on time. Consider coming up with information trade portal.

Sensitisation of drivers/transporters on legal and illegal charges

No Sensitisation has been done; However, most truckers are informed on legal and illegal charges

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Pending

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NCTTCA to work closely with stakeholders and device means of sharing information with stakeholders efficiently and on time. Consider coming up with information trade portal

Secretariat to conduct an impact assessment of the corridor to establish the current transport cost

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There is a need to conduct an assessment to ascertain transport cost along the NC

Roll out of driver training program and sensitisation to reduce accidents along the corridor

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NCTTCA to follow up and implement with the relevant stakeholders

Regional Customs Transit Bond should be used for all goods whose taxes are not paid to minimise fresh declarations and bonding of goods at border stations which contributes significantly to the border crossing time and delays. Furthermore, Member States should recognise the RCTG bond executed by forwarders in the other Member States

RCTG not fully implemented yet.

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant stakeholders and have this implemented.

Put in place vehicle and axle load controls; set up a Weighbridge along the Nimule – Juba road is getting damaged due to overloaded trucks

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Ministry of Transport Roads and Bridges - South Sudan

No weighbridge in South Sudan

Put in place multiple weighing lanes at busy sections of the corridor such as at Athi-river and Mariakani to reduce traffic congestion at these weighbridge stations.

Kenya upgraded most weighbridges

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NCTTCA to follow up to have weighbridges upgraded in Uganda

One major point of focus is to use proper maintenance approaches/strategies. It was noted that the use of performance-based maintenance contracts was working well in Kenya, and it is recommended for all the Member States to adopt this strategy along the Northern Corridor. Furthermore, it is recommended that newly upgraded roads be resealed after six years to prolong their life spans.

Ongoing; It’s a continuous process

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA to share the concept of performance-based maintenance contracts with other Member States

Need for driving hours to be regulated to enhance road safety

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NCTTCA to work with relevant stakeholders and transport association to implement the recommendation

Member states are urged to give priority to expansion of railways transport infrastructure development along the corridor. Also, to be given priority is expansion of Inland waterways network

Ongoing

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA to do follow up and confirm implementation of this recommendation

Member States should prioritise the rehabilitation of the sections under the Northern Corridor which have continued to deteriorate over the past years. These sections have led to the delays and even increase the cost of maintaining the vehicles using these sections of the roads hence raising the cost of doing business, thereby affecting the flow of intraregional trade. Furthermore, with the signing of the African CFTA, Member States should work towards development of intercontinental transport infrastructure networks to facilitate intercontinental trade. In light of the growing volumes of cargo across the key traditional borders, there is need to open up new trade routes and border stations to support trade across the borders, reduce distances to the border for trading communities where these roads pass and to decongest the traditional borders.

Ongoing as a continuous activity

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant stakeholders to have the recommendations implemented

Member States are urged to automate collection of informal cross border trade statistics they are encouraged to benchmark with Rwanda which has started implementation

Ongoing activity

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA to advocate for adoption of various methodologies for collection of data on informal trade

Member States are called upon to implement Article 43 of the NCTTA, which calls for elimination of visa fees

Pending for DRC and South Sudan

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant agencies towards eliminating visa fees in Member states of DRC and South Sudan

Liberalisation would create a more competitive haulage sector as well as reduce the overall cost of transport. The Member States should work towards reviewing their trade policies on intra-regional trade to support the creation of backhaul cargo for transporters

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow up and ensure the recommendation is implemented

Lack of backhaul is a factor that contributes to high transport rates in the region. There is need to expedite approval procedures for acquisition of permit to transport cargo to the local market by transit licensed trucks.

Pending

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NCTTCA need to follow-up and lobby

It was reported that there is a lot of congestion at the Nairobi ICD and high trucks turnaround time. Currently, there is one gate for exports and empty containers. It was recommended that KPA need to create additional gates to reduce congestion at the ICD-N.

Ongoing

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NCTTCA need to liaise with KPA to have this problem address through the implementation of the recommendation

It was recommended that South Sudan should automate its customs business processes to expedite clearance of internationally traded goods with a proposal that the automation process is carried out in phases.

The processes of automating customs processes in South Sudan is currently ongoing

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Ongoing

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The Republic of South Sudan National Revenue Authority

NCTTCA need to play a critical role in ensuring the customs processes have been automated

It is recommended that efforts should be made to explore opening another border station between Uganda and Kenya, preferably located between Busia and shores of Lake Victoria to ease flow of goods between the two countries. The capacity of Malaba and Busia border station which handle goods heading towards the transit route through Kampala is becoming overstretched

Pending

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NCTTCA to recommend to agencies concern

It is recommended that all Member States work towards having all weighbridges high-speed weigh-in-motion and on either side of the road, especially at busy sections of the corridor as well as implementing remotely monitored virtual weighbridges to avoid stopping trucks unnecessarily

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow up to have weighbridges upgraded in Uganda; NCTTCA to follow up and have all weighbridges in Kenya have HSWIM.

Issue 13 recommended the need for single window systems to be integrated across the region

Single window adopted in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda

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Ongoing

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Need to synchronise all single windows

Increased use of containers would be more appropriate to reduce costs related to both imports and exports to and from the port

NCTTCA to continue monitoring the use of containers.

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA to continue monitoring the use of containers.

Improvement in the logistics in Rwanda and promotion of market competition will ultimately reduce transport rates in Rwanda.

Ongoing: NCTTCA need to follow-up

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA need to follow-up

Improve on the cargo handling facilities and procedures for receipt of goods at ICD’s and bonded warehouses. The implication is that there are delays in receiving of cargo in the inland cargo storage areas (ICD’s and bonded warehouses) and delays in cancellation of transit bonds for goods which have reached their destinations. The delays are a sign of inefficiencies at the ICD’s and bonded warehouses, which causes delays in offloading goods from trucks, thereby affecting their turnaround time.

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant agencies towards enhancing operations at ICDs

Implementation of the Regional Customs Transit Guarantee and Single Customs Declaration form for the region and other Trade facilitation instruments

Some trade facilitation instruments not implemented yet.

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Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant stakeholders and have this implemented

Implementation of the International Maritime Traffic (FAL) Convention by reducing paperwork, simplifying formalities, documentary requirements and procedures associated with the arrival, stay and departure of ships engaged on international voyages is crucial.

Pending

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant agencies