President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for the removal of trade barriers and improvements in transport infrastructure and border security to boost commerce between Uganda and South Sudan.
Museveni made the call on October 14, 2026, when he met a delegation of senior South Sudanese government officials led by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Dr Labanya Margaret Mathya, at State House, Entebbe.
The discussions focused on challenges affecting cross-border trade, including delays in clearing goods, insecurity along trade routes and other barriers that increase the cost of doing business.
Museveni said Uganda’s annual exports to South Sudan were estimated to have grown from $500 million to $700 million, underscoring the importance of strengthening trade relations between the neighbouring countries.
He identified three priority areas for joint action: improving the Juba-Nimule road, expanding electricity connectivity and strengthening security along the border.
“We should work on three areas: working with the African Development Bank on constructing the Juba-Nimule road for business between the two countries, building the power line, and then also our two armies cooperating on securing the borders,” Museveni said.
The President also proposed establishing a one-stop border centre to reduce delays and simplify the movement of people and goods between the two countries.
Traders face persistent cross-border challenges
Hon. Labanya said the South Sudanese delegation was in Uganda to participate in a business forum aimed at identifying challenges affecting cross-border trade and finding practical solutions.
She described Uganda as one of South Sudan’s major trading partners and welcomed efforts to make commercial exchanges more efficient.
“Uganda is one of the biggest exporters to South Sudan. We really appreciate and are extremely glad for that trade in our country. It meets very few hurdles like non-tariff barriers between Nimule and Juba. We came to see better ways to make trade more seamless, acceptable and tasteful to both countries,” she said.
Labanya said cooperation should extend beyond the exchange of goods to cover peace, healthcare and knowledge sharing.
“Trade is everything. We trade in peace, health and in our own intellectual ideas between the two countries and ensuring that the exchange of trade continues,” she said.
On security, she acknowledged traders’ concerns about roadblocks and other difficulties along the Nimule-Juba route. She said most of the reported roadblocks had recently been removed, while efforts to address remaining concerns continued.
“Security of the population, mainly the traders, is key. Some of them were subjected to roadblocks. Most of them were removed recently,” she said.
Uganda raises concerns over costs and compensation
Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Sanjay Tanna, said traders continued to encounter non-tariff barriers, delays in clearing goods, insecurity and high costs charged by financial service providers.
He also raised concerns about outstanding compensation claims involving Ugandan traders operating in South Sudan.
Tanna said traders had reported difficulties arising from administrative changes, delays in resolving complaints and the cost of conducting business across the border.
“The issues on our side are more or less the same. Administration that keeps changing, when a new person comes they keep coming. Some include non-tariff barriers, delays in clearance, insecurity was high, which are resolved when they are raised. Security of our people, the element of high costs of financial institutions doing business. The Ugandan community of traders that has visited me raised the issue of compensation. Their side is slow, our side is quick, however they have committed to improve,” he said.
He called for closer coordination between the two governments to address the concerns and create a more predictable environment for cross-border business.
The meeting was also attended by Dr Sam Mayanja, the Attorney General; Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development; and H.E. Paul Malong Akaro, the South Sudanese Ambassador to Uganda.
The discussions highlighted the importance of infrastructure, reliable electricity connections and improved security in reducing trade costs and strengthening commercial relations between the two countries.
