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By Susan Dokolo - Juba
A high-level Uganda government delegation comprising seven ministers has assured Ugandan traders in Juba that the Government of Southern Sudan is doing everything to protect them and their property.
These assurances were given at a meeting between government officials and the Ugandan business community in Juba and filed this report.
Taxation Blues Presenting trader’s complaints to the delegation, the chairman of the Ugandan Community’s Organizing Committee in Juba, Mr. Ronald Mutesasira, said there is a lack of clear policy in southern Sudan that the traders could follow. He added that roads leading to south Sudan from Uganda are in bad condition.
“There is over-taxation and multiple taxation,” Mr. Mutesasira said.
“There is no differentiation between taxable goods, consumer or capital, and the tax rates are often determined by the tax collector.” Mr. Mutesasira said that while “taxes are collected by GOSS at one point, state authorities of Eastern and Central Equatoria levy their own taxes [and] traffic Police collect their own.”
“Positive Peace”
Various members of the Ugandan delegation assured the traders that everything will be done to assist them, and that the Government of Southern Sudan is also doing everything possible to protect them and their property.
The traders were informed that the Ugandan government had contracted a company to construct the road from Gulu to Nimule and the road from Arua to Oraba.
The Ugandan Minister of State for Defense, Ms. Ruth Nanyabirwa said: “My portfolio, which is the Ministry of Defense, is working with SPLA, with the GOSS, to make sure that the peace we have attained is retained and it is positive peace.”
The Southern Sudan Minister of Trade and Commerce, Mr. Anthony Makana, said that people who are mistreating the traders want to kill the economy.He revealed that his ministry is going to put in place a person who is going to receive complaints from the traders.
Meanwhile, the Ugandan delegation was today scheduled to meet the Speaker of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly and the President of South Sudan later in the evening.
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