Kampala and Juba are currently in a state of unease following the refusal of South Sudan to compensate Ugandan traders about US$60Million.
The Ugandan traders are demanding this chunk of cash for supplied goods and services to South Sudan government institutions and individuals.
Uganda government is also disturbed by the continued mistreatment of Ugandans in South Sudan which threatens to upset the harmonious relations between Kampala and Juba.
Uganda’s State Minister for Trade David Wakikona told Ugandan Parliament on Tuesday that Uganda wrote to South Sudan in June about the issue but Juba has not responded.
“It’s disappointing, you write the letter to these people [in Juba], you keep asking for the response but nothing is coming out,” Wakikona said.
“Even when Amelia Kyambadde went to Juba to follow-up on the matter, she wanted to meet the arbitration committee for South Sudan but they showed her nothing. This is the problem.”
Statistics provided by Uganda government put the informal cross border exports to South Sudan at 41.3% of all total informal exports.
In June, the government of South Sudan apologised to the Ugandan business community in Juba over the alleged mistreatment and harassment by the South Sudanese.
South Sudanese ambassador to Uganda Sarah Victor Bol said her government was unable to address some issues because of the isolated nature of the cases.
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