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IN THE REGION

BILATERAL TRADE

Uganda, South Sudan

Discuss Bilateral Trade

The Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made a surprise trip by road to visit his
South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba in December 2012. The Ugandan
president braved the dusty and bumpy road between Gulu and Elegu by road. Gurtong’s
Central Equatoria State Correspondent Waakhe Simon Wudu reports on the significance of
the visit.

(CPA) in 2005, which
ended the civil war
between South Sudan
and Sudan, there has
been economic boom
for Uganda whose
products have the
largest market in the
new nation.
External and internal
challenges, such as
insecurity, lack of
stable power and poor
road network, have
denied South Sudan
an opportunity to
produce and market
its own commodities.
The meeting between
the two leaders is
expected to improve
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni (Centre) upon his arrival to Juba welcomed by President bilateral ties between
Salva Kiir Mayardit (Right) in December 2012. [Gurtong | Waakhe Simon Wudu]
the two neighbouring
During the liberation struggle, Uganda, like other neighbouring countries.
countries, hosted thousands of South Sudanese and this has “We talked about so many useful things: on trade between
created a historical bond between the two countries, with our two countries and how to prosper in South Sudan; even
bilateral trade between the two countries being the most without the oil we can do many things,” Museveni told
important. journalists.
South Sudan and Uganda share a lot in common politically, “We also discussed the issues of the border trade; there are
socially and economically. Currently, several South Sudanese obstacles. Custom officials should not be allowed to do
have acquired land and built homes where their families live in things which are not supposed to be done because they retard
Uganda as most of their children are also getting educated in business. So we agreed on liberty,” said Kiir.
the East African country. The situation has made the new nation, hyped as the 6th
After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement member state of the East African Community, one of the

50 | Gurtong Focus Monthly February 2013