Rice traders protest import permit restrictions, demand government intervention

What the report says

Rice traders in Kampala are urging the Ugandan government to review new restrictions on rice import permits, saying the policy has left some of their trucks stuck at border points and caused financial losses. The dispute was reported by Nile Post and centers on members of the Kampala Rice Traders Association, whose chairperson, Livingston Ssenyonga, said long-running traders were excluded from the latest permit allocations.

According to the article, the Ministry of Trade issued import permits to 25 companies, a decision the traders say raises questions about how firms were selected. They argue that some approved companies are not established rice traders, and they have called for an investigation into the process. The traders also alleged possible corruption in the allocation system, though these claims were not independently verified in the report.

The affected businesses are mainly based in areas including Kisenyi, Kawempe, Matugga and Nateete. The traders say the restrictions threaten their livelihoods and investments, and they have asked the Prime Minister, Parliament, President Yoweri Museveni and trade officials to intervene. They warned that protests could follow if their concerns are not addressed. More broadly, import licensing disputes can affect food supply chains and the movement of goods, especially for traders operating across border crossings.