Truck Drivers Strike at Malaba Border Over Union Leader's Arrest and Alleged Harassment

A cross-border truck drivers' strike at the Malaba border earlier this week in May 2026 disrupted trade and transport between Uganda and Kenya. Authorities estimated losses of up to Shs35 billion in revenue collections during the one-day standoff. Long queues of stranded trucks lined the busy highway on the Ugandan side of the Malaba border after the strike.

Inside the One Stop Border Post at Malaba, the usually busy crossing point fell unusually quiet as movement into and out of Uganda came to a standstill. Truck drivers blocked the main Uganda-Kenya highway using their vehicles, paralysing transport operations for several hours. The protest was against the arrest of Sudi Kauli Mwatela, Chairperson of the Long-Distance Drivers' Union.

Sudi Kauli Mwatela was arrested at the Elegu border over allegations of inciting violence. He was released and returned to Malaba on Monday. There, he was handed over to fellow drivers amid jubilant scenes at the Malaba border.

Speaking shortly after his release, Sudi Kauli Mwatela described his arrest as unfair. He accused security personnel at various border points, particularly Elegu, of persistently mistreating truck drivers. He claimed that drivers are often subjected to harassment, unnecessary stoppages, intimidation, and illegal charges while transporting goods across borders.

"Drivers are facing a lot of challenges during transit, and unless these concerns are handled properly, such situations can happen again," Sudi Kauli Mwatela warned. He warned that failure to address the grievances of truck drivers could trigger more industrial actions in future.

Abbey Mawerere, the URA Regional Manager for Eastern Uganda, said the disruption resulted in an estimated Shs35 billion loss in revenue collections.

Transportation of perishable goods such as tomatoes, mangoes, and other fresh produce was heavily affected, with several trucks stranded for hours under intense heat. Malaba is one of East Africa's busiest trade corridors serving as a key gateway for goods moving between the Port of Mombasa and landlocked countries including Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

AllAfrica reported that although traffic and business operations have since resumed, truck drivers insist that long-standing concerns surrounding harassment, insecurity, and illegal charges during transit must be urgently addressed to prevent future disruptions along the strategic regional trade route.

Abbey Mawerere criticised the leadership of the truck drivers for what he described as poor handling of their grievances. According to him, the situation escalated after the union organised a meeting with drivers without notifying security authorities, increasing tensions at the border.

"The drivers should have engaged security agencies through formal channels instead of resorting to actions that disrupted regional trade and transport," Mawerere said.