Minister for Trade Amelia Kyambadde has asked the police chief Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura, and his counterpart in South Sudan, Gen. Deng Tieng to expeditiously address the security concerns on the Nimule-Juba highway following the recent killing of two Ugandans.

Addressing a joint press conference with South Sudan Ambassador to Uganda Samuel Luate Lominsuk in Kampala on Saturday, Ms Kyambadde expressed concern that if the security of Ugandan traders is not guaranteed, trade between the two countries will greatly be affected.

Ms Kyambadde was responding to last week’s road ambush on Nimule –Juba highway in which five people, including two Ugandan traders, were shot dead by unidentified assailants.
The traders who were transporting goods to South Sudan, were allegedly attacked by people wearing uniforms similar to that of the South Sudan army, 25 kilometres to Juba.

The minister condemned the attacks perpetuated against the traders and called for prompt investigations and due justice.

“We demand that the sector ministry gives us assurance of the safety of our traders in South Sudan and we also demand that the investigation report be availed to the government of Uganda for onward submission to the bereaved families” She said.

Ms Kyambadde advised the traders to always move during day and in a convoy as both governments seek for permanent solutions.

The ambush was the second on the same highway this month. The first involved a Ugandan driver who was shot and badly wounded and goods stolen from the truck he was driving.