A very well calculated scheme by a section of South Sudanese individuals to orchestrate trade protocols across the border with Uganda has left many stakeholders in utter shock about the management of public revenue and regional economic integration.

This calls for the intervention of the two governments to investigate why some officials from the South Sudan Revenue Authority are usurping powers of the relevant ministries to push for measures that may result in non-tariff barriers. This has not only sparked debate about compliance with regional trade protocols, but it has also instilled fears about the motives of these individuals. It would be prudent for the respective finance ministries to intervene and restore order at the border before the situation gets out of hand.
 Following the letter dated November 21, 2025, and referenced RSS/SSRA/J/CG/OUT/2025/547, the SSRA CG notifies the URA Commissioner General about the unscheduled urgent meeting regarding the implementation and enforcement of the E-Permit system between the two administrations.

However, the URA Commissioner General has taken a lead in protecting both Ugandan and Sudanese traders by swiftly suspending the E=Permit enforcement for the destined goods to South Sudan due to predicted and detected adverse effects of the system.

Following the controversy, there is already suspicion, delays, and rising business costs that have continued to cast a long shadow over cross-border trade, fueling fears that private enrichment is taking precedence over public revenue and regional integration.

It should be noted that SSRA introduced the use of electronic import permits, a system they argue has been interpreted by some Ugandan enforcement teams as mandatory for goods entering South Sudan through Uganda whereas not.

Stakeholders claim that this has led to instances in which officials on the Ugandan side began enforcing requirements that are not yet harmonized under regional frameworks.

Business associations, traders and transporters contend that such actions could contradict regional trade agreements governing the free movement of goods and persons, including protocols under the East African Community (EAC) and related bilateral trade arrangements. They warn that additional layers of documentation may create delays, raise transport costs, and disrupt supply chains vital to both economies.

“We are concerned that these new procedures, which appear to be outside the agreed regional frameworks, are slowing down trade and causing uncertainty for businesses,” said one of the concerned traders. “We need clarity from both governments.”
Persistent confusion at the Uganda–South Sudan border points has intensified after traders, transporters, and civil society monitors alleged that a private company, working in connection with officials in South Sudan, is behind a controversial electronic import-permit system that many believe is driving unofficial fees and double taxation on goods bound for Juba.
According to multiple trader associations, the electronic import permit system appears to have been initiated through a private company whose role has not been publicly clarified. Transporters report that they are often told they cannot proceed without purchasing these electronic permits, even when they have already paid customs duties at designated points.
The way this system is designed, there are fears of double taxation as well as revenue leakage. Economic analysts monitoring the situation warn that if the allegations are verified, the scheme could be siphoning significant revenue away from official South Sudan government channels, leaving both traders and the state short-changed.

The innocent traders are subjected to paying normal customs duties, border processing fees and additional charges linked to the electronic permit system. This is unfair because the receipts issued allegedly lack clear government coding, and this may lead to funds being diverted to private accounts rather than the national treasury.

A regional trade expert said, “South Sudan’s economy is fragile; any unmonitored extractions, legal or otherwise, directly undermine public revenue and distort the cost of goods in the market.”
On the Ugandan side, enforcement officers appear to be acting on what traders describe as ambiguous directives. This has created a scenario in which Uganda may inadvertently be enforcing requirements not recognized under regional law, potentially placing the country in conflict with EAC commitments.
Prominent traders contend that neither the EAC nor the bilateral Uganda–South Sudan agreements provide for electronic import permits issued through private intermediaries.
The confusion has also strained the crucial Elegu–Nimule corridor through which a significant share of South Sudan’s essential imports pass. The transport delays and informal fees are already contributing to higher commodity prices in Juba and the surrounding counties.

Calls for policy clarity

Civil society groups, chambers of commerce, and logistics unions are now demanding a formal investigation into: the legal authority behind the electronic permit scheme, the identity and mandate of the private company involved, the transparency and accounting of fees collected and Uganda’s basis for enforcing a system not formally recognized regionally.

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The Ruparelia Foundation is set to bring festive joy to vulnerable communities across Uganda this December, as it launches its annual Christmas outreach in honour of the late Rajiv Ruparelia.

The Foundation, known for its philanthropic initiatives in education, health and community development is inviting Ugandans from all walks of life to join in giving back to those in need.

The celebrations will take place across multiple locations, targeting orphanages and community centers.

The Foundation believes that Rajiv Ruparelia’s laughter lives in every heart he touched. 

This Christmas, the Foundation wants to continue his legacy by spreading love, joy and hope to children and families who need it most.

The schedule of events includes: 5th December 2025, 3 PM – Ghetto Research Lab, Mulago Kamwokya, 6th December 2025, 10 AM – Chrystal Children’s Centre, Sebuliba Kitale, 12th December 2025, 10 AM – Ekikalu Community, Kyebando and 13th December 2025, 10 AM at King’s Ways Academy Junior School, Nansana Town Village

The Foundation is calling on well-wishers to support the cause by volunteering their time or donating items. Donations can be dropped off at the Kabira Country Club reception, with a reminder that only clean and usable items are accepted. For more information or to get involved, members of the public can contact +256 756 777 646.

This initiative reveals Ruparelia Foundation’s commitment to uplifting communities and ensuring that the spirit of Christmas reaches those who need it most.

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President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday, November 20, commissioned a Shs180.49 billion starch processing plant in Namasagali Sub-county, Kamuli District.

The new facility, developed by Dei Biopharma founder Dr Matthias Magoola will manufacture starch, glucose and maltose for the pharmaceutical and food sectors. The plant will rely heavily on cassava, requiring about 500 metric tonnes per day, and is designed to generate more than 100 product derivatives from cassava, maize and potatoes.

The starch plant is part of the $10 billion biotechnology vision that includes a 1,000-bed specialised hospital, a vaccine manufacturing centre and advanced pharmaceutical production facilities.

While commissioning the plant, President Museveni praised Magoola’s persistence and contribution to Uganda’s scientific growth.

“I commissioned the Dei Group Advanced Agro-Processing Park and the new starch plant here in Busambo, Namasagali,” he said.

He noted,“I congratulate Mr Magoola for his innovation and resilience. From his early work in Matuuga on malaria remedies rooted in our ancient knowledge, to the vibrant progress we see today, he continues to make a real contribution to Uganda’s wealth creation journey.”

The President also reflected on his longstanding support for the scientist.

“I met this young man through his uncle, and I helped him when he faced difficulties in India. I facilitated his legal processes, and today we appreciate his innovation. We should support people like him,” Museveni said.

He urged Ugandans to embrace rather than discourage innovators.

“I don’t know why Africans don’t like innovation,” the President remarked.

He added,“Many prefer sleeping and criticising. Magoola, forgive everyone disturbing you. Even when I began my struggle, people thought I was mad.”

Museveni emphasised the central role of industrialisation in job creation, noting that manufacturing employs more Ugandans than the public sector. He pledged to establish an industrial park in Namasagali once land is made available.

Dr Magoola said the new facility would significantly cut the cost of pharmaceuticals on the continent, since almost all starch and related ingredients used in tablet and capsule production are currently imported. He said the plant positions Dei Biopharma among the first African firms capable of producing its own pharmaceutical inputs.

According to him, the project will also create thousands of jobs and provide a reliable market for farmers across Busoga, Bukedi, Lango and Teso.

President Museveni commended international partners involved in the project.

“I thank the partners, including our friends from the United States, who are supporting these efforts,” he added.

The commissioning took place during the President’s re-election campaign tour of Kamuli District and was attended by First Lady Janet Museveni alongside local leaders and residents.

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Bank of Uganda Governor and Chairperson of the COMESA Committee of Governors of Central Banks, Michael Atingi-Ego has called for stronger regional coordination, credible policy frameworks and renewed vigilance as African economies continue to grapple with overlapping global shocks.

Speaking on Thursday, 20 during the opening of the COMESA Central Bank Governors’ Symposium at Kigo, Atingi-Ego said the meeting comes at a time when uncertainty has become a defining feature of the global economy.

“Today, we do more than exchange ideas; we reaffirm a shared mission to safeguard stability in a world where uncertainty has become the only certainty,” The Governor told delegates gathered on the shores of Lake Victoria.

He commended participants who travelled from across the continent, saying their presence reflects a collective determination to confront economic turbulence with coordinated action.

“Your presence signals a collective resolve: that in times of turbulence, we do not retreat, we respond, we adapt, and we lead,” Atingi-Ego said.

Atingi-Ego highlighted the themes guiding the symposium, including monetary policy under global shocks, managing commodity booms and busts, and assessing financial sector resilience in the COMESA region. He stressed that these are not abstract policy conversations but urgent priorities shaping the region’s economic future.

He noted that COMESA economies continue to face asymmetric impacts from crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, tightening financial conditions and climate-related disasters. These disruptions, he said, have amplified the vulnerabilities of commodity-dependent markets.

“Each shock has tested the resilience of our monetary frameworks,”he said.

He added that inflationary pressures transmitted through food and energy prices hit the poorest households hardest.

The Governor warned that when advanced economies tighten monetary policy, African countries often experience immediate capital outflows, exchange rate pressures and rising debt service costs.

“In such times, central banks must be more than technicians of interest rates they must be anchors of confidence, stewards of trust, and guardians of credibility,”he emphasised.

Atingi-Ego commended COMESA member states for the resolve shown in recent crises. He cited liquidity support during the pandemic, regulatory forbearance, decisive tightening when inflation surged, and cautious interventions to manage exchange rate volatility.

“The lesson is clear: credibility and clear communication are as vital as the policy rate itself,”he said, urging governments to preserve fiscal discipline and safeguard the independence of central banks.

Atingi-Ego said commodity price volatility remains a structural challenge for many African economies. He called for stronger monetary frameworks, reserve accumulation during booms and the deployment of macroprudential tools to smooth shocks.

He also stressed the importance of sovereign wealth funds and fiscal stabilisation mechanisms to prevent procyclical spending during commodity upturns.

Turning to financial sector stability, the Governor highlighted the need for enhanced early-warning systems, improved liquidity management and stronger coordination between fiscal and financial authorities.

He said regional initiatives including the COMESA Committee of Governors, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Regional Payment and Settlement System are strengthening the continent’s ability to withstand shocks.

Atingi-Ego also pointed to Uganda’s own progress, noting that the Bank of Uganda has implemented risk-based supervision, regular stress testing and integration of sustainability into monetary and regulatory policy.

“Despite global fuel price surges and pandemic aftershocks, our financial sector remained stable supported by prudent regulation and adequate capitalisation,”

he said.

He added that the expansion of mobile money has driven financial inclusion but introduced new risks requiring consistent oversight.

The Governor noted that new technologies such as FinTech, digital currencies and data analytics present both opportunities and vulnerabilities.

“Our role is to create an enabling environment where innovation thrives within a framework of trust, transparency, and resilience,”

he told participants.

He urged central banks to adopt forward-looking policies that anticipate crises rather than simply respond to them.

Atingi-Ego also thanked the symposium’s guest speakers, Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u and Prof. Victor Murinde, whose insights, he said, would enrich the day’s discussions.

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The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced updates on ongoing maintenance works across several key road networks, following weeks of heavy rainfall that have affected transport and community access in multiple regions. 

The ministry’s station teams have been deployed to grade worn-out sections, clear blocked drainage channels and restore safe travel conditions on gravel roads nationwide.

In its latest update, the Ministry said its emergency maintenance response remains active across districts experiencing flooding and landslides. 

“Nationwide Road Maintenance response: Our station teams are grading roads, reopening clogged drainage channels to ensure safe and reliable travel conditions across gravel roads,” the statement noted.

Works Ministry, Permanent Secretary Bageya Waiswa said the Ministry continues to closely monitor the entire road network, especially areas prone to weather-related damage. 

“With the current heavy rains, our teams will keep monitoring the network and restoring any sections affected by floods or landslides,” Bageya said.

Several key roads have been listed among those currently under maintenance. These include the Adjumani–Simanya Road, where grading works are underway to improve surface conditions; the Bukwiri–Kyankwanzi Road, where teams are restoring failed drainage channels; and the Hamurwa–Karere–Kanungu Road where heavy equipment is already deployed to smoothen deteriorated sections.

In Kigezi sub-region, station teams are working on the Kanyantorogo–Butogota–Buhoma Road, an important route for residents, farmers and tourism operators connecting to Bwindi. 

The Ministry has also confirmed active maintenance on the Ocher–Namasale Road, aimed at improving accessibility for communities that often face isolation during peak rainfall seasons.

The Ministry said the southwestern team in Kabale is making significant progress on multiple routes where road shoulders and surfaces have been severely affected. 

“Our station team in Kabale is carrying out grading works to improve the surface condition and restore smooth, reliable travel for all road users,” the update added.

The ministry reiterated that maintenance operations will continue across the country for the duration of the rainy season, with priority given to routes that support trade, tourism and essential community movement and also emphasised its commitment to ensuring that roads remain open and communities stay connected.

“Keeping roads alive and communities connected!” he rallied.

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