SPLA Pledges to Relax Border Taxes

by Amazia Dradenya, New Vision.

Sept 3, 2005 (Kampala) — The Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) has pledged to reduce tariffs for goods coming from Uganda.

SPLA/M advance team leader to Juba, Brig Gen Johnson Juma Okot, said this week that with peace in southern Sudan, many Ugandans have opened businesses there, but were being over taxed by SPLA/M authorities because there was no government at the border points.

He said the old structure of taxes at the border posts was to generate funds for running the daily activities, as the SPLA/M fighters were not paid. Okot said business was key to development.

“We are aware that many Ugandan have started doing business in Sudan but are being discouraged by heavy taxation at the border points of Nimule, Kajo-Keji and Kaya border points.

“I would like to encourage Ugandans and Sudanese to carry on with their business. We have planned to cut taxes at the borders,” Okot said.

He was speaking to hundreds of Sudanese refugees in Adjumani. Okot said SPLA/M had laid down guns for peace.

“We need your support through business because we are starting the rehabilitation of our country with scraps. To my brothers, the Sudanese, we have killed ‘an elephant’ in the bush and we welcome all to cut a piece of meat,” Okot said attracting prolonged laughter.

Ugandan bus companies, the Gateway and Nile Coaches, have already started plying to Yei via Koboko, while several other businesspeople have set up businesses in the area.