Ugandan traders from South Sudan have petitioned the Parliamentary Committee on the Budget asking the government to compensate them for the properties they lost during the South Sudan War.The group led by the chairperson Uganda Traders Association of South Sudan Patrick Ntege Walusimbi complained to the committee that government through cabinet had agreed to compensate them two years ago but to date they have not received any money .
The traders say that other countries like Kenya and Ethiopia compensated their traders who lost property in the war but Uganda’s government was yet to compensate Ugandan traders.
They say the government should bail them out or they will default on the loans they acquired to do business in South Sudan.
The Uganda government has been earning taxes worth over 500 million dollars per year from traders who do business in South Sudan.
Yet, the group of 146 companies and individuals want 20 million dollars as compensation for their lost properties.
The Members of Parliament have however demanded that the group furnishes evidence for their claims so that parliament have proof before they push for the claims to be satisfied.
The opposition chief whip who is also the Woman Member of Parliament Dokolo district Babra Cecilia Ogwal Atim said that she will support traders to be paid if the matter comes to parliament and called on government to improve its relationship with South Sudan so that Ugandans are not harassed , killed and no properties lost