Importers protest “extortionist” clearance fees at Nimule border

Hundreds of cargo trucks importing goods into South Sudan were left stranded at several checkpoints along the Malaba–Nimule road after truckers accused the Ugandan clearance company of imposing higher charges.

The Chairperson of Clearance and Forwarding, Deng Daniel, told The City Review yesterday that the South Sudan Ministry of Trade and Industry contracted K-Polygone Multinational Company to manage the electronic cargo tracking as well as issue all the certificates for import to all cargo truck drivers and importers coming to South Sudan.

But the same company [K-Polygone] subcontracted VESCO Company in Uganda to carry out the exercise, and this led to an increase in clearance fees on imported goods.

Deng said the importers refused to pay the money because, per cargo, they charged from $300 to $400 per tonne depending on the weight of the cargo trucks.

“As I speak, from yesterday, all cargo trucks lined up at each checkpoint from Malaba to Karuma and there are no cargo trucks coming, including fuel tankers. They have not entered through Nimule because they are saying that the charges are too much for them,” Deng said.

Deng said the implementation of the issuance of the certificates in Uganda by the company has affected the drivers and the importers.

He stated that the company imposed a variety of fees, including administration fees, commission fees, and taxes assessed based on the number of goods imported into South Sudan.

Deng warned of a shortage of commodities that would affect the whole country if the stalemate persisted and no solution was found to enable the drivers to proceed with the journey.

He appealed to the government to monitor the implementation of the system in Uganda and added that it should be revised since it affected the flow of cargo trucks to South Sudan.

The representative of the East African Long Distance Driver’s Association who spoke to Eye Radio from the border point of Malaba, Sudi Mwatela, said the requirements were that every truck pay $50 and after that, they needed a payment of $5 per tonne and also another payment called “intervention.”

According to him, if a transporter charges 3 million Uganda shillings, then 1.8 per cent of the transportation has to be paid to INVESCO Uganda, which is in partnership with K-Polygone of South Sudan.

However, when contacted for comment, the Director for External Trade, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Doctor Stephen, said he had no idea of what was happening at the border point and that this newspaper should instead contact the Minister of Trade and Industry.

‘‘You better contact the minister because I have no idea about the company and what is taking place at the border point,” Stephen said.

In September 2021, truck drivers camped at Elegu where they were demanding compensation for the life of their colleague who was killed along the Juba –Nimule road.

The absence of cargo trucks in South Sudan has affected the markets, driving high prices for commodities.