The 814-kilometer border between Kenya and Uganda is the economic backbone of East Africa, a bustling and vital corridor that links the port of Mombasa to the heart of the continent. This is one of Africa’s busiest frontiers, a place of constant movement for trucks, buses, and people.
You have two main crossing points that handle the vast majority of traffic. The busiest is at Malaba, which is the primary route for commercial trucks and the standard-gauge railway. A few kilometers to the south, the Busia crossing is often preferred by those traveling by bus or car, as it can sometimes be slightly less congested with cargo traffic.
Both Busia and Malaba are “One-Stop Border Posts.” This modern system means you complete the immigration and customs procedures for both exiting one country and entering the other in a single building, which helps to streamline the process. Despite this, the sheer volume of traffic means you should still be prepared for queues.
This border is a perfect place to witness the engine of the East African economy in action. The endless stream of trucks carrying goods inland is a clear illustration of the region’s interconnectedness. It is a well-organized and efficient crossing, making overland travel between these two key nations a straightforward affair.