- Kokinyongo has noted that Uganda is a landlocked country and almost 90 percent of its imports are taken through the Mombasa Port.
- The official also called on Ugandans to store some essentials to prepare in case the situation in the country worsens.
Image: YOWERI MUSEVENI/TWITTER
Uganda’s opposition party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has called on President Yoweri Museveni to intervene in Kenya’s situation before it escalates.
Party’s deputy spokesperson John Kikonyongo, according to Daily Monitor, is concerned that the protests are likely to spill to the country causing negative impacts on the economy of the country.
Kokinyongo has noted that Uganda is a landlocked country and almost 90 percent of its imports are taken through the Mombasa Port when Kenya is unstable, it automatically affects it in terms of trade.
He advised that the Ugandan government lobbies the East African parliament and diplomatic relations at a lower level to prevail over the situation that is likely to affect the country’s economy.
“We interest the government of Uganda to think about the situation in Kenya more seriously, they shouldn’t take it for granted because it has a lot of effects on our economy. If there is a way of working out a solution despite being a foreign country, I believe it is high time they came in with whatever they could do,” Kikonyongo has been quoted as.
The medium states that the official addressed journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala on Monday, the day protests rocked various towns across the country.
The official also called on Ugandans to store some essentials to prepare in case the situation in the country worsens.
“When there is a war in Kenya, automatically Uganda is in danger as far as our economy is concerned. We cannot go into their internal affairs but we must pray to God that whatever happens there doesn’t affect us,” he stated.
The protests affected business in the capital Nairobi for the better part of the day as Azimio la Umoja supporters engaged police in running battles.
Transport was also paralyzed along key routes within the town.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga announced Tuesday that the demonstrations will be held twice a week beginning next week.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua put the total loss as a result of the protests at Sh2 billion.
“This morning (Monday) because of lack of business in the CBD, the country has lost almost Sh2 billion in terms of business and this is money that should have been circulating in the economy,” said Gachagua during an event in Mombasa.