Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) chairperson Odrek Rwabwogo has hailed the South Sudanese government for amicably resolving the impasse at Nimule border post and enabling the release of 26 Ugandan trucks, which had been impounded inside South Sudan.

“I want to thank Hon.Eng Changkuoth Bichiok who led the delegation of South Sudan, he has agreed with us and spoken directly as a brother speaks to a brother in terms of what the private sector should do and the actions taken by the govt of South Sudan,” Rwabwogo said, according to a tweet by the Office of the Presidential Advisor – Special Duties on Sunday.

On Saturday, Rwabwogo led a delegation from the trade and foreign affairs ministries for diplomatic talks with the South Sudan government at the Nimule border post. The talks led to the immediate release of 26 Ugandan registered trucks laden with produce, including maize grain, posho and wheat, that had been held inside South Sudan since May 15, 2023.

The Ugandan delegation included officials from the trade ministry, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, foreign affairs ministry, the Uganda Revenue Authority, and the grain council.

South Sudan officials, included Chairperson of the Economic Committee Changkuoth Bichiok Reth, Majak Deng Kuol (South Sudan National Bureau of Standards), Steven Jorbet (Trade & Commerce), Gartuak Riek (National Revenue Agency of S.Sudan), Majak Deng and James Bor (ministry of foreign affairs).

PACEID was established to serve one overarching goal: Addressing and overcoming the strategic and operational bottlenecks that impede Uganda from fully harnessing its industrial and export potential.

“So, we welcome first of all the release of all trucks. All the trucks that are carrying food are to be released so that we don't affect the subsidiary industry that is not food. We thank them for allowing us to do that. Secondly, we thank them for allowing that food should be offloaded, stored safely and retested without any more misreporting/misrepresentation and that their two agencies and ours will work together to finish this," Rwabwogo noted.

He also emphasized the rich history between the two countries in terms of military, security, trade, political and diplomatic collaboration.

PACEID plays a co-ordination role for Ugandan exporters, producers, government institutions and other stakeholders, ensuring they work together to accelerate Uganda’s export growth and industrial development. 

The organisation serves as a one-stop-shop for training, education, guidance, promotion and other support needed to grow Uganda’s exports in both quality and quantity.

Commissioned in March 2022 by President Yoweri Museveni, PACEID is co-ordinated by the Office of the President.

PACEID works directly with the Office of the President to develop and implement practical solutions to the strategic and operational bottlenecks that impede Uganda from fully harnessing its industrial and export potential.

PACEID sits under the Office of the President and works in consultation with the various ministries and their permanent secretaries that make up the Council of Ministers.