Ugandans will benefit from investing in Sudan
Sep 25, 2007
THE information minister of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS), Dr. Samson Kwaje, and the GoSS military attaché to Uganda, Lt. Col. Majier Abdulla, spoke to <b>Alfred Wasike</b> about the relationship between Uganda and the GoSS.
THE information minister of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS), Dr. Samson Kwaje, and the GoSS military attaché to Uganda, Lt. Col. Majier Abdulla, spoke to Alfred Wasike about the relationship between Uganda and the GoSS, denied allegations that the Ugandan business community in southern Sudan is targeted for harassment and other issues. Southern Sudan, also known as New Sudan, comprises of 10 states.
The Sudanese government agreed to give autonomy to the region in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (also known as the Naivasha Agreement), signed on January 9, 2005 in Naivasha, Kenya with the SPLA/M, tentatively bringing an end to the a decades’ long war. Nearly all its administrative offices are in Juba, the regional capital.
QUESTION: there are scary stories emerging from Juba about Ugandans being harassed. What is going on?
ANSWER: Juba is very vibrant. Those stories that are being published by a certain section of the press in Uganda are not true. It is important to note that the enemies of peace are unhappy that Uganda and South Sudan have excellent relations.
There are elements that are also not happy that the Government of South Sudan is mediating for peace between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army. The situation is calm. Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese not only lived in Uganda, but also have families in Uganda. So there is no way we can target our Ugandan brothers and sisters. We are not raping Ugandan women.
On September 5, the vice chairman of the Ugandan community in Juba, Anthony Makuyi, was allegedly stabbed to death by an SPLA military officer. What happened to the culprit?
It was not an SPLA officer. It is important to note that disciplinary action has been taken against the officer. He is in detention. There is no tension or panic or mistreatment of Ugandans or other traders in our markets. I have visited the markets like Customs, Konyo Konyo and Jabel Ku Jul. We are disappointed in that kind of unobjective reporting that is designed to spoil our relations. An isolated incident should not be made to look like the norm of the situation.
What about allegations that there is a plot to block Ugandans from trading in southern Sudan?
That is absolute nonsense. When we (the SPLM/A) came to Juba, there was nothing here. There were no goods at all. There was no merchandise at all. Life had stopped. Our Ugandan brothers and sisters came in handy like they had also stood by our us during our struggle. Uganda’s geographical proximity made it the automatic supplier. Ugandans assisted us in stocking our towns. Kenya is also one of our main suppliers.
Hasn’t the killing of the Ugandan and the related allegations of harassment of Ugandans strained the relationship between Uganda and South Sudan?
Not at all. We have excellent cooperation with the National Resistance Movement Government. There is absolute harmony between us. We want to develop a common market so that we can serve and develop our people better. Our fate and destiny are tied together by history and geography. We cannot run away from each other. We must work together.
What about allegations that Ugandan traders are being turned away from South Sudan due to a problem with entry permits?
We have a special relationship with Uganda. There is absolutely no problem with the permits. We have liaison officers who handle the issue of permits. Our embassies are under instructions to facilitate, especially Ugandans.
We have liaison offices in Kampala, Nairobi, Cairo and Addis. We also give our entry permits at Juba Airport. For example, the one in Kampala is Lt. Col. Abdulla who is also the military attaché in our mission in Uganda. (Abdulla said the permits are issued on the authority of the GoSS ministry of regional cooperation in conjunction with the ministry of internal affairs. He said some unscrupulous people in Kampala are forging entry permits and selling them to unsuspecting traders at Arua Park in Kampala. He also said the police in Kampala had arrested one suspect. Abdulla complained that other unscrupulous business people divert vehicles meant for South Sudan and branch into the Democratic Republic of Congo where they buy fake number plates and sell off the vehicles, thus depriving South Sudan of much-needed revenue. He also rubbished allegations that UPDF had looted timber in South Sudan.)
What assurances do you have for Ugandans and other visitors to your country?
We want to promote trade and investments. I can assure our Ugandan brothers and sisters that South Sudan is an open society. We are enforcing free movement of people and capital. We appeal to Ugandans and Kenyans to help us like they have done in the past for. Those two countries were instrumental in our getting the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that set out our road map to peace and development.
There is a very conducive investment climate in South Sudan. Land is available, our policies are favourable and we have security for all. Ugandans and Kenyans should take South Sudan as their second home. We want to develop tourism and hotel management. We need experience to manage national parks as well as Uganda and Kenya are doing.
The Sudanese government agreed to give autonomy to the region in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (also known as the Naivasha Agreement), signed on January 9, 2005 in Naivasha, Kenya with the SPLA/M, tentatively bringing an end to the a decades’ long war. Nearly all its administrative offices are in Juba, the regional capital.
QUESTION: there are scary stories emerging from Juba about Ugandans being harassed. What is going on?
ANSWER: Juba is very vibrant. Those stories that are being published by a certain section of the press in Uganda are not true. It is important to note that the enemies of peace are unhappy that Uganda and South Sudan have excellent relations.
There are elements that are also not happy that the Government of South Sudan is mediating for peace between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army. The situation is calm. Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese not only lived in Uganda, but also have families in Uganda. So there is no way we can target our Ugandan brothers and sisters. We are not raping Ugandan women.
On September 5, the vice chairman of the Ugandan community in Juba, Anthony Makuyi, was allegedly stabbed to death by an SPLA military officer. What happened to the culprit?
It was not an SPLA officer. It is important to note that disciplinary action has been taken against the officer. He is in detention. There is no tension or panic or mistreatment of Ugandans or other traders in our markets. I have visited the markets like Customs, Konyo Konyo and Jabel Ku Jul. We are disappointed in that kind of unobjective reporting that is designed to spoil our relations. An isolated incident should not be made to look like the norm of the situation.
What about allegations that there is a plot to block Ugandans from trading in southern Sudan?
That is absolute nonsense. When we (the SPLM/A) came to Juba, there was nothing here. There were no goods at all. There was no merchandise at all. Life had stopped. Our Ugandan brothers and sisters came in handy like they had also stood by our us during our struggle. Uganda’s geographical proximity made it the automatic supplier. Ugandans assisted us in stocking our towns. Kenya is also one of our main suppliers.
Hasn’t the killing of the Ugandan and the related allegations of harassment of Ugandans strained the relationship between Uganda and South Sudan?
Not at all. We have excellent cooperation with the National Resistance Movement Government. There is absolute harmony between us. We want to develop a common market so that we can serve and develop our people better. Our fate and destiny are tied together by history and geography. We cannot run away from each other. We must work together.
What about allegations that Ugandan traders are being turned away from South Sudan due to a problem with entry permits?
We have a special relationship with Uganda. There is absolutely no problem with the permits. We have liaison officers who handle the issue of permits. Our embassies are under instructions to facilitate, especially Ugandans.
We have liaison offices in Kampala, Nairobi, Cairo and Addis. We also give our entry permits at Juba Airport. For example, the one in Kampala is Lt. Col. Abdulla who is also the military attaché in our mission in Uganda. (Abdulla said the permits are issued on the authority of the GoSS ministry of regional cooperation in conjunction with the ministry of internal affairs. He said some unscrupulous people in Kampala are forging entry permits and selling them to unsuspecting traders at Arua Park in Kampala. He also said the police in Kampala had arrested one suspect. Abdulla complained that other unscrupulous business people divert vehicles meant for South Sudan and branch into the Democratic Republic of Congo where they buy fake number plates and sell off the vehicles, thus depriving South Sudan of much-needed revenue. He also rubbished allegations that UPDF had looted timber in South Sudan.)
What assurances do you have for Ugandans and other visitors to your country?
We want to promote trade and investments. I can assure our Ugandan brothers and sisters that South Sudan is an open society. We are enforcing free movement of people and capital. We appeal to Ugandans and Kenyans to help us like they have done in the past for. Those two countries were instrumental in our getting the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that set out our road map to peace and development.
There is a very conducive investment climate in South Sudan. Land is available, our policies are favourable and we have security for all. Ugandans and Kenyans should take South Sudan as their second home. We want to develop tourism and hotel management. We need experience to manage national parks as well as Uganda and Kenya are doing.