Uganda asks South Sudan to guarantee safety of truck drivers

During a high-level special security meeting between officials from both Uganda and South Sudan, the two sides agreed on a number of issues such as providing security to all Ugandan track drivers.

The meeting was attended by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Commissioner-General, John Rujoki Musinguzi and Maj. Gen. Gathon Jual Reik, the South Sudenese acting customs commissioner at the Nimule border post, representatives of track drivers and other officials.

The Amuru Resident District Commissioner, Stephen Odong Latek, said among other things, the South Sudanese delegation agreed to give the necessary security protection to the drivers and provide a framework to receive, listen and attend to their grievances.

He said the South Sudanese team asked Ugandan drivers to use official channels in clearing their goods at the border, other than agents. 

“It was noted that some agents, with intent to getting bigger commission, tend to exaggerate figures, and demand drivers more money other than the official figures,” he said.

Latek said the South Sudanese team informed them that they had scrapped all road blocks the Elegu-Nimule-Juba highway and left only three formal ones.

The South Sudanese team also vowed to stop the South Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) soldier who carry out illicit collection of money from drivers.

It was also noted that South Sudan has rebel groups that stage illegal road blocks within South Sudan.

Both teams agreed to increase surveillance on both sides of the borders to fight smuggling of goods.