Thugs robing Ugandan businesses in South Sudan

Members of the Uganda business community operating in Juba the South Sudan Capital are counting losses due to the ongoing violence.

In separate interviews with the New Vision, members of the community said they have been forced to close their businesses because of the flaring war.

Jamilah Nasimbwa, a Ugandan selling second hand clothes in South Sudan said the sound of small and heavy weapons that has rattled through the skies in the last two nights has forced them to close their businesses.

"And those who attempted to open shops have had their properties robbed on gun point by armed thugs patrolling the streets in Juba," Nasimbwa added.

South Sudan is home to thousands of Ugandans dealing in several businesses. But since the war broke out in 2013, their businesses have been paralyzed.

Nasimbwa said the new spate of fighting in the world's newest nation started at about 3:00pm on Thursday and ran through the evening until 8:30pm.

There was also renewed fighting on Saturday morning at about 3:00am until 6:00am around the spot where the father of South Sudan, John Garanga was laid to rest.

Adella Mbabazi a Ugandan in Juba for training said the fighting was so much to bear. "I have never witnessed heavy gunfire from left to right in my life and helicopters flying over my head. I only see such wars in movies but today I was in that movie. ‪ Juba needs prayers," she said.

Fresh fighting in Juba started this week on Thursday between government troops and their rivals of the SPLA IO. Serious fighting took place at Gudele a surbub of Juba.