Business 7 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
South Sudan Envoy Assures Ugandan Traders Amidst Retail Ban Rumors
South Sudan's Chargé d'Affaires in Uganda has clarified that remarks suggesting a ban on foreign retailers do not represent official government policy, aiming to allay fears among Ugandan businesspeople operating in the country. The assurance comes ahead of a bilateral business forum aimed at strengthening economic ties. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/juba-disowns-threat-to-ban-foreign-retailers-as-south-sudan-envoy-allays-ugandan-traders-fears-5623846
South Sudan’s diplomatic mission in Uganda has moved to quell anxieties among Ugandan traders following statements that suggested a potential ban on foreign retailers operating within Juba County. Ms. Akuol Abujok Deng, South Sudan’s Chargé d’Affaires to Uganda, stated that the remarks made by Juba County’s caretaker commissioner, Mr. Kalisto Ladu Nyigilo, do not reflect the official stance of the South Sudanese government.
“I can assure our Ugandan sisters and brothers who are in South Sudan that they shouldn’t panic. Our relationship as two countries is paramount and we value it at the highest order,” Ms. Deng reassured journalists in Kampala. She emphasized that Mr. Nyigilo holds the position of caretaker commissioner, not mayor, and his statements are not policy.
The panic was triggered by a viral video where Mr. Nyigilo asserted that retail businesses, such as selling produce like chapati, onions, and tomatoes, should be exclusively reserved for South Sudanese nationals. He suggested that foreign investors should focus on wholesale operations, allowing locals to engage in retail.
This directive had caused significant concern among the large Ugandan community involved in retail and small businesses, particularly in major Juba markets like Konyokonyo and Gumbo. Reports indicated that many Ugandan nationals operate a majority of the shops and stalls in these commercial hubs.
Ms. Deng’s clarification precedes the upcoming second Uganda-South Sudan Business Forum and Exhibition in Kampala, which aims to enhance bilateral trade and address existing non-tariff barriers. The forum seeks to establish a Joint Permanent Investment and Business Council and position both nations as strategic trade gateways.
Official figures highlight the economic significance of the bilateral trade, with Uganda’s annual exports to South Sudan estimated at $500 million. The close economic relationship is seen as a cornerstone of regional integration and mutual prosperity.