Row mars Uganda, Tz cattle discussion

By Ali Mambule in Bukoba Tanzania
TANZANIAN and Ugandan officials exchanged bitter words at Kolping Hotel in Bukoba town as the Ugandans tried to rescue over 1,700 head of cattle auctioned by the Tanzanian government.
Rakai resident district commissioner Mary Kemerwa headed the team from Uganda, comprising Mbarara and Rakai district officials.
Over 20 herdsmen from Rakai and Mbarara districts were rounded up on May 26 and 27 in Kayanga, Karagwe district in Tanzania, on the orders of the Karagwe Regional Commi-ssioner, Gen. T.N Kiwelu. They were deported back to Uganda after the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) auctioned their 1,702 cows.
Kemerwa said, “It is shocking to learn that those herdsmen had acquired legal resident permits from Tanzanian authorities but all these were confiscated. This deportation greatly undermines the spirit of the East African Co-operation.”
The Tanzanian delegates accused their Ugandan counterparts of not informing them when such big numbers of cattle were entering their country.
TRA assistant regional manager for Kagera Victor Msuya said, “You have to forfeit all smuggled goods that enter into our country, including cattle. They evade paying revenue by using illegal entries.”
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