Uganda cut off for over 3 hours in Malaba

By Reuben Olita

Uganda was cut off from Kenya on Monday for over three hours when a truck driver blocked the Northern Corridor in protest over the arrest of a colleague.

Eye witnesses said the police had stopped the truck and demanded for the turn man's identification. After producing them he was arrested and locked at the police station.

The driver who had remained in the vehicle vented his anger on the police action by blocking the highway before disappearing.

Malaba remained a ghost town as the paramilitary officers patrolled the one way street. It was not until 3:00pm that the truck was removed from the road by another driver, thus opening up the busy corridor.

The Kenyan incident spiraled to Uganda with the pile up stretching over 4km past Kayembe checkpoint. Uganda and other Great lakes region rely on the Port of Mombasa for their imports with Malaba border used by many transit trucks plying the Northern Corridor.

Teso police boss in Kenya, Elphas Korir warned clearing agents against compromising border security by blocking the police from executing their duties, “I cannot interfere with my officers from discharging their duties” he added.

Korir also blamed the incident on idlers and told them that their days are numbered, adding that the truck driver will be charged with obstruction.

Two land rovers full of General Service Unit officers were called to disperse the swelling crowd which had engaged Malaba Traffic Base Commander, Bii Kipkoskei in heated arguments.