South Sudan war: Uganda loses Sh2.2 trillion

By David Lumu

The paralyzed trade exchange between Uganda and South Sudan has cost Kampala Sh2.2 trillion, Dr. Gabriel Ajedra Aridru, the Minister of State for Investment has said.

Ajedra told New Vision that the effects of the conflict in South Sudan have hit Ugandan trading badly and that if the guns don’t fall silent, the situation might become worse for the business fraternity and Uganda’s trade with Juba.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday at the Uganda Media Center, Ajedra said that the estimated Sh2.2 trillion that Uganda has lost due to the three-week-old conflict in South Sudan could go up if efforts to broker peace between the rebels and President Salva Kiir fail to yield results.

The unrest in South Sudan erupted on December 15 last year with rebels led by former Vice President Riek Machar protesting how Kiir is leading the two-year-old country.