State Minister for Finance David Bahati and his close business associate Apollo Nyegamahe, popularly known as Aponye, bagged the Lion’s Share from a Shs40 billion pay that the government paid to traders who had claims against the South Sudan government.
Apollo Nyegamaye was paid $3,365,896 through his Aponye (U) Ltd and another $ 799,333 through his Apo General Agencies Limited, a Parliamentary Committee that investigated the payments discovered.
Kanagizi George William of Kibungo Enterprises, another close business associate of Bahati from the Kigezi sub-region, was also paid $2,404,429.
In its report to Parliament, the Committee recommended that traders who had claims against the government of South Sudan has recommended that Uganda’s government should pay their claims.
In its report, the Committee recommended that the claims by the Ugandan companies whose payment had been approved by the Ministry of Finance and Planning of South Sudan, amounting to $2O, 715,324 be provided for in Uganda’s budget.
The committee further recommended for the payment after verification of the other companies whose claims total to $45,288,312.
“The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should urgently disburse the loan balance of $30,750,996 under the sovereign guarantee to the intended beneficiaries in order to build confidence and assure the GORSS that it is committed to the terms of the Bilateral Agreement, “recommends the Committee report.
The Select Committee also recommended that the Uganda Government should immediately put in place a fund to assist Uganda-South Sudan traders who cannot be compensated by the GORSS for lack of documents or contracts with the Government of South Sudan.
The Report also tasked The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to take advantage of the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) to support our traders against political and commercial risks while operating in foreign markets.
“Given Uganda’s contribution in establishing peace in South Sudan, Government of Uganda should urgently negotiate comprehensive and favorable trade agreements with the Government of South Sudan, “recommends the Report.
The report also recommends that the Uganda Government should cause the appropriation by Parliament of an enhanced budgetary resource to improve the human, logistical and technical capacity of Uganda’s Embassy in South Sudan, given the huge business opportunities and the number of Ugandans trading in South Sudan.
