Ugandan traders are cursing after fresh fights broke out in South Sudan last week leading to loss of their businesses.
Due to the intensified fighting, the border post to Sudan was closed and Ugandans allowed no access to the young country.
Today, the Trade and Tourism Minister, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde said traders should forget about their businesses in the S. Sudanese capital Juba.
South Sudan became Uganda’s leading export destination in 2008 following the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) in 2005. According to Minister Kyambadde, total exports peaked at USD 1.18 BN in 2008.
She explains that “the fighting that broke out in December 2013 sparking off a civil war in South Sudan caused a steady decrease in Uganda’s exports from USD 414M in 2013 to USD 385M in 2014 and USD 353m in 2015.”
Uganda exports cereals, milling products (maize flour, wheat flour), sugar, iron and steel, cement, beers and soft drinks, motor vehicle re-exports vegetable oils and soap Lubricants.
The minister advised Ugandan traders who do their work in Juba but are in Uganda at the moment to stay here, while those stuck in South Sudan to find means of getting to the Ugandan Embassy for evacuation.
“The Juba airport is still closed and the main road to Nimule too is closed, however, security has gone in to clear the road and send in 30 trucks that are going to evacuate Ugandans through the Eastern Route of South Sudan” Says Kyambadde.
She added; “Ugandans have been advised to stay in doors and those near the Ugandan embassy should move within the Embassy territory. The Ugandan Embassy has been facilitated to take care of Ugandans in Juba.”
The minister also advised traders to explore other market opportunities created through regional integration especially the EAC and COMESA in the wake of conflicts in South Sudan.
“Uganda can export to other EAC member states including Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda under the common market protocol.
Ugandans stuck in S. Sudan have therefore been advised to move East in order to find the 30 UPDF trucks that have been sent in to their rescue.
