Parliament has Tuesday recommended that government reviews the bilateral agreement between Uganda and South Sudan to allow for all traders who supplied goods to the neighbouring country be paid.
The initial motion tabled before the House on Tuesday was to pass a resolution to borrow USD 41 million (Shs 150 billion) and pay ten (10) companies that the South Sudanese government is indebted to, so that it (South Sudan) repays Uganda later.
However, the deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah said this was in breach of the bilateral agreement that provides for all affected traders.
The amendment by Minister of State for Planning, Finance Minister, David Bahati of the motion followed a heated debate with several MPs who argued that it was unfair to pay only 10 businesses and sidelime other affected traders.
The said traders under their umbrella body, Uganda South Sudan Grain Traders and Suppliers Association Ltd supplied tons of maize and sorghum to the government of South Sudan but only Shs 55 billion (USD 15 million) was paid, due to the bloody civil unrest that has hit the country.
Parliament’s Committee on National Economy then recommended that government of Uganda pays the balance of Shs 150 billion (USD 41 million) to the traders who have been verified to belong to the Association.
During Tuesday’s debate, however, a section of lawmakers including Rakai Woman MP Juliet Ssubi Kinyamatama demanded that government considers amending the bilateral agreement to equitably pay off all those affected.
Kinyamatama was concerned that the agreement left out other 23 companies that were verified as having supplied goods to the South Sudan government.
Some of the sidelined companies include; Roko construction (USD 3 million), Premium (USD 9 million) and Dott Services (USD 12 million) among others.
She said that it would be very unfair for government to pay some but leave out other Ugandans that supplied goods to South Sudan.
Dokolo South county MP Felix Okot-Ogong said there is need to have a report from the verification committee following the memorandum of understanding between the two countries signed in 2016 which had only focused on 10 companies.
Minister Bahati says the government has requested the South Sudan government to send a team to work with to resolve the issue of the 23 verified but not included for payment.
The Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda assured members that all claimants will be paid upon verification and bilateral agreement between the two countries.
“We shall deal with this matter comprehensively but in a phased manner, verification is a strong element in business, therefore, all that have been verified by both Uganda and the government of South Sudan will be included and be properly paid for the services they rendered,” Rugunda said.
But MPs later agreed to the request by government to have the 10 verified companies compensated first as the process to verify the remaining 23 continues.
Some of companies to be paid include; Aponye Uganda (USD 9 million), Kibungo Enterprises (USD 13.2 million), KK Transporters (6.6 million), Ropani International Company (USD 4.4 million), APO General Agencies (USD 4.3 million) and Queens Transport, Trade and Investment (USD 3.3 million).
The others are Gunya Company Ltd owned by Geoffrey Okwir, Odyek Ejang Company Limited, Ake-Jo General Enterprises Ltd and J.B Traders.