The Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has pitched a tough task on President Kenyatta where he ask him to ensure thathe Rai Paper mill in Webuye is revived to increase trade in the East African Community.
According to Museveni the region is losing billions of shillings importing goods that can be produced locally.
“Imagine, I’m buying paper from Finland where it is so cold that a tree takes 120 years to grow. In Uganda pine trees take seven years to mature but I am buying paper from Finland. Why not buy it from within?” he added
About Sh1 billion was pumped into reviving the mill in 2016, but two years later, operations are yet to resume.
Museveni disputed that the region has had a 13 per cent drop in intra-trade, instead saying it has grown and will continue to do so.
He further noted that the barriers between the east African community can indeed be solved.
The two leaders held a bilateral talk at State House, Mombasa.
Museveni said East African countries are bleeding because of laziness and lack of focus.
“Let us stop being pessimistic. Those (trade) figures are because of sleeping. People are sleeping. But that does not mean they are dead. Let us wake up and work. We are in a wake-up session now,” he said.