(JUBA) – Trade activity between South Sudan and Uganda has fallen significantly this week as security measures tied to the Ugandan general election block cross border logistics. A total suspension of internet services across Uganda, combined with the decision by many transport companies to halt movements, has left hundreds of cargo trucks stranded at major border crossings. Business leaders in Juba now fear that a continued blockage will lead to market shortages and wider economic trouble for the region.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) explained that the internet blackout was necessary to prevent incitement. Nyombi Tembo, the Executive Director of the UCC, stated on Tuesday that the agency directed all mobile network operators and internet providers to stop services on the advice of the national security committee. He said the move aimed to stop misinformation and electoral fraud that could harm public safety and national security.
By Wednesday, the regulator stated that specific groups could ask for an exemption from the shutdown if they prove their work is essential. While the government allowed banks, airlines, security forces, and the Electoral Commission to stay online, clearing agents and transport firms were not included. This has left customs paperwork and digital cargo tracking tools unusable. The UCC said companies can appeal this decision, but did not provide a date for when these requests might be reviewed.
The digital blackout began at 6pm and quickly caused a stop to tax and customs work. Uganda is a central transit point for goods heading to South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a result of the shutdown, transit goods are currently piling up at inland ports and border yards.
At the Elegu border (Nimule in South Sudan), which is the primary gateway into South Sudan and usually handles about 400 trucks per day, the clearance process has almost stopped. Charles Ongelec, a clearing agent at the Elegu-Nimule crossing, said that without internet, customs officers and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) are unable to share the digital photos of trucks required for final clearance.
Hajj Asadu Kisitu, the URA commissioner for customs management services, confirmed that operations are facing heavy disruption. He said that although the URA itself has internet access, the transporters and clearing agents who must file the electronic documents do not. This creates a gap in the system that prevents goods from moving.
The blackout has also damaged the regional mobile money network. Operators reported that withdrawal limits were reached by Wednesday, making it difficult for traders to settle electronic payments across the border. Additionally, many truck drivers on the Kenyan side of the border at Malaba and Busia have chosen to wait rather than enter Uganda, despite government promises that the election will be peaceful.
By Thursday, there were growing worries that a lack of movement would cause a shortage of essential items like fuel in South Sudanese markets. Kenneth Ayebare, the head of logistics at the Uganda Private Sector Foundation, noted that while some trucks might start moving domestic goods, the future of transit cargo heading to Juba remains unclear.
In response to the uncertainty, Kanakulya Jemba Mulondo, the president of the Kampala City Traders Association, said many business owners are now trying to stock up on food staples such as rice, beans, and maize flour. Meanwhile, security teams in Uganda continue to tell the public that the country is safe as Yoweri Museveni contests the presidency against seven other candidates.
