Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Ugandan traders in Juba have appealed to the government to fully implement the East African Common Market Protocol to smoothen trading with South Sudan.
The EAC Market Protocol provides for the free movement of goods across the borders.
At a meeting on Thursday, the traders complained that South Sudan’s delayed adoption of the protocol had opened the door for extortion at the border and harassment of Ugandan traders by the South Sudan customs officials.
The Secretary-General of the Uganda community in South Sudan, Bwanga Philemon, alleged that the Ugandans living in South Sudan are being harassed in search of immigration documents.
“We are aware that the visa has been waived off, but practically when you move from Uganda to South Sudan, most of our people are coming thinking that visas have been waived [only to pay like $50 by the time they reach Juba],” he said. He added that the foreigners are normally charged SSP5,000 as a registration fee.
Joining EAC
South Sudan joined the East African Community in 2016, reaping the benefits of the Customs Union on customs policy and administration, as well as free movement of employees within the EAC.
But several businessmen and women who have already established themselves in South Sudan have remarked that there has been slow progress in the adoption of the protocol.
Namulondo Juliet, one of the Ugandan female traders, said they were frustrated by the situation as she outlined the challenges female traders face.
She appealed to the Director-General of Immigration, Lt Gen Atem Marol Biar to step in and address them.
She said some of the Ugandans have lost their travel documents in fire outbreaks and are often extorted by individuals who pose as officers of immigration.
Another trader, Taha Osman, also echoed this sentiment saying Ugandan traders lose a lot in multiple levies.
“We need our money to be accounted for well.” If I pay SSP 20,000, write it on the receipt as SSP 20, 000. We beg you to bring us a clear document indicating that someone doing this needs to pay this money so that we all know that and don’t go into problems with your officials,” Osman said.
Ogolla Julius said extra charges were being levied on Ugandans entering South Sudan, and that rampant arrests were concerning.
He appealed for fair treatment and enforcement of the immigration laws.
“We need to treat one another with some level of dignity,” Julius emphasised
The traders appealed to Uganda’s immigration director to advise them on viable alternatives since the temporary travel permits being issued by South Sudanese authorities are not sustainable.
Bawanga also urged Lt Gen Biar to act urgently to ease the process for them to register for the right documents.
“You may find that someone has lost everything but still put you on the pickup and the principle is that once you are put on the pickup, you will have to pay SSP2,000 to come back.”
“We need that kind of special arrangement for our people who are here so that they can get those services at the embassy,” he requested.
Maj. Gen. Apollo Kasiita of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control of Uganda assured the Ugandan citizens in South Sudan of their commitment to ensuring that South Sudan streamlines the EAC protocols.
“All the issues you have raised will be addressed, but I will tell you this nation-building is not an easy thing,’’ Kasiita said.
Biar said his office would take stern action to stop further harassment of Ugandan traders.
“Let us protect ourselves and let us respect human rights. Let us go with the policy of delivering services to the people at the borders,” Biar said.
He warned against random arrests of traders and that all foreigners in the country must be respected.
However, Gen. Biar advised the Ugandan community in South Sudan to avoid demonstrations and instead focus on finding an amicable solution through dialogue.
James Gatluak, Chief Migration Officer at Munuki a residential area, said they also face resistance from some Ugandan traders.
He said many of them often show behaviours that cannot be pronounced when the police approach them.
“Sometimes you tell our officer to go with you to your house with claims that you have left your documents in the house. When you reach home, you lock yourself in the house so when we use the force you call it harassment,” Gatluak said.
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