Let’s take a little virtual road trip, shall we? During a short but jam-packed stay in Eldoret city, I decided to explore three major Kenya-Uganda border towns with my camera in tow.
This isn’t one of those posts that rehashes Google info with fuzzy facts. Nope! You’ll get firsthand experience with this one, dust on the boots, camera memory almost full, and a stomach that survived Ugandan street food.
So buckle up! We’re hitting Malaba, Busia, and Suam, three gazetted Kenya-Uganda border points you’ll find on any good Kenya-Uganda border map. Oh, and I’ve got a cheeky bonus stop at the end too.
The Kenya-Uganda Border Towns Itinerary
I had two solid days set aside just for this. Day one? Malaba and Busia. Day two? Suam. Why these three? Because they’re not only the major border crossing points between Kenya and Uganda but also designated One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), which means they handle cargo, customs, and immigration in a pretty modern and efficient way (at least on paper)
And while I couldn’t visit every location on the list of Kenya-Uganda border towns, these three gave me a solid peek into the dynamic life along this frontier.
1. Malaba: Where Trade Never Sleeps
From Eldoret city, we took the Eldoret-Webuye route, winding past towns like Turbo, Kanduyi, and Kimaeti. Bungoma town itself is about 4km off the highway at Kanduyi.
The sun at the Malaba border point doesn’t play. And it’s made worse by the endless lines of trucks waiting to clear customs.
But what really struck me was the infrastructure at this Kenya-Uganda border crossing. Think neat buildings, clear signage, surveillance cameras, and even cargo scanners. Plus, there’s a heavy police and KRA presence. It’s no backwater checkpoint but one of Kenya’s busiest and most critical OSBPs.
Is Malaba in Bungoma, you might ask? Short answer: Nope! Malaba is firmly in Busia County, but you do pass through Bungoma County to get there if you’re coming from Eldoret via the Webuye-Malaba Highway.
Crossing over to Uganda
Yes, we crossed over. You can walk across the border, and within minutes you’re in Uganda. And no, we didn’t need a visa for this casual hop since the EAC agreement makes things smoother.
Lunch? Let’s talk about that! Ugandan food slaps differently. We had matoke mashed with groundnut paste, some sweet potatoes, white rice, and what can only be described as some of the juiciest wet-fried beef I’ve ever eaten.
We paid via M-Pesa, which works perfectly well here despite Uganda having its own mobile money service, MoMo by MTN (basically their M-Pesa).
Fun fact: River Malaba, part of the Malakisi River basin, runs right through the border.
2. Busia: A Rocky Area and a 24/7 Border Beat
From Malaba, it’s a 29-kilometer dash to Busia, another of the top Kenya-Uganda border towns that is slightly closer to Kampala than Malaba is.
Busia surprised me with its topography: rocky hills, small maize farms, and more greenery than I expected. It felt quieter than Malaba but no less important.
The Kenya-Uganda border point at Busia runs 24/7, which makes it ideal for cargo traffic, especially for trucks coming from Kisumu or Western Kenya in general. It’s also an OSBP, which makes the processing of people and goods seamless…theoretically.
We didn’t spend too long here, but a few things stood out (mostly from online reviews):
- Money changers right inside the immigration building (a lifesaver!)
- Physical bag checks and frisking still happen, so pack smart
- The queue of trucks was starting to build up even in the afternoon
- Just like Malaba, paid toilets again (yes, again!)
Heads-up for travelers
Be on alert for people pretending to work with customs or immigration. There’s also been chatter about fake currency, so triple-check before exchanging money.
The place can get very crowded during peak hours, so if you’re planning a visit or crossing, do it early or brace yourself for some congestion.
3. Suam: The Quiet Beauty by Mt. Elgon
A few days after Malaba and Busia, we took off for Suam. The route took us through Cherangani, Sibanga, Kitale, and Endebess.
Somewhere around Endebess, we entered ADC (Agricultural Development Corporation) territory, and wow, these folks don’t mess around. The farms stretched as far as the eye could see. Wheat. Maize. More wheat. We came during harvest season, so the lush green maize fields had already been turned into golden dry stalks. Still, it was beautiful.
Then, boom, Suam border point. For the background, this One-Stop Kenya-Uganda Border Post was part of a massive infrastructure project funded by the African Finance Development Bank and supported by the China State Engineering Construction Corporation. It was launched on April 10, 2021, alongside the upgrade of the 45-kilometer Kitale–Suam highway.
Suam may not buzz like Malaba or Busia OSBPs, but don’t let the quiet fool you; the setup is modern, clean, and secure.
What truly defines Suam, though, is its setting. Nestled near the Suam River, which forms the actual border between Kenya and Uganda, this post sits on the edge of the breathtaking Mt. Elgon ecosystem. You can literally see the forest behind the customs buildings.
And while Suam is less crowded than its counterparts, it’s still fully functional. There’s a mobile KRA scanner truck stationed permanently in the compound. It’s a clear sign that security and efficiency still matter here. You’ll see light truck traffic, mostly transporting food produce across the border, but the real action is on foot. Locals, traders, and small passenger vehicles make up the majority of the traffic.
The Uganda side
We crossed over and sampled some Ugandan-made bread (yes, it’s different) and took in the beauty of Mt. Elgon Forest, which sits right behind the border offices.
Oh, and here’s a fun cultural tidbit. I spotted a campaign poster for a Chemutai running for Woman MP in Bukwo District, and just a few steps away, a Kibet was gunning for the Kongasis Constituency MP seat. I’ve always thought names like Chemutai and Kibet were as Kenyan as ugali and sukuma. Turns out, Bukwo is home to the Sebei people, a Kalenjin sub-tribe.
Bonus: Lwakhakha
We didn’t get the chance to visit Lwakhakha, another gazetted Kenya-Uganda border point that connects Uganda to Bungoma County.
From what I’ve learned:
- It’s mainly used for transporting agricultural goods
- The infrastructure is basic, lacking scanners and storage
- Goods have to be offloaded manually for inspection. Yes, it’s as inefficient as it sounds
- It closes early, around 10 PM
However, there are talks (and plans!) by the East African Community, Kenya, and Uganda to upgrade Lwakhakha into an OSBP. This would help reduce congestion at Malaba and Busia and open up trade routes through Bungoma.
So, What Towns Border Kenya and Uganda?
Great question! From the Kenyan side, major towns include Malaba, Busia, Suam, and Lwakhakha. On the Ugandan side, you’ll find Malaba (Uganda) and Busia (Uganda) as well. Yes, same names, different countries. These two are the most significant because they handle the bulk of trade and Kenya-Uganda border crossing traffic.
You’ll find all these on any good Kenya-Uganda border map, and hopefully, now you have a much more vivid picture of what’s happening on the ground.
Conclusion
Exploring these Kenya-Uganda border towns was a journey into the heart of East Africa’s regional trade and the real lives behind the policies and paperwork. The contrasts between the busy truck lines of Malaba, the rocky greenery of Busia, and the serene forest-backed Suam were unforgettable.
Whether you’re a traveler, trader, or just a curious soul, the Kenya-Uganda border towns are full of surprises, flavor, and unforgettable encounters. If you ever get the chance, take the trip and take a lot of photos in allowed places.
FAQs About the Kenya-Uganda Border Points
1. Is Malaba in Bungoma?
No! Malaba is officially in Busia County, Kenya. However, the main access road, the Webuye-Malaba highway, passes through Bungoma County. So while Bungoma plays a big part in the journey, Malaba itself sits firmly in Busia.
2. Which mountain is on the border of Kenya and Uganda?
That would be the majestic Mt. Elgon, the world’s largest volcanic base. You can get an incredible view of Mt. Elgon from Suam and Endebess. The mountain straddles the border and creates a shared ecosystem that’s lush, forested, and absolutely stunning.
3. What towns in Uganda are near Kenya?
Funny enough, Malaba and Busia exist on both sides of the border. Yes, Kenya and Uganda each have their versions. These towns are twin gateways, handling most of the trade and human traffic between the two countries.
4. What’s the most efficient Kenya-Uganda border crossing for cargo?
It’s a toss-up between Malaba and Busia, both of which are One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs). Malaba is favored by trucks from Eldoret and further north, while Busia sees more from the Kisumu side. Suam is quieter, and Lwakhakha, while promising, isn’t yet efficient due to poor infrastructure.
Ezekiel Maina is the brains behind ContentGenics, where he pairs creativity and strategy to craft B2B and B2C content that real people love to read. He has written for brands like House Digest, iFoundries, Harmony Home Medical, Postaga, and BeamJobs, and covered topics like home improvement, real estate, freelancing, digital marketing, career growth, food & travel, automotive, durable medical equipment (DME), and Cannabis. By day, he’s crafting content, catching up with clients from his home office, lost in a good book, or occasionally chasing nature and greenery in another county. By late evening, he’s typically deep in a documentary rabbit hole on Netflix or YouTube.
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