Truck drivers end strike, resume operations to South Sudan

Uganda truck drivers have resumed their operations along the Nimule-Juba highway after reaching a consensus with the Government of South Sudan on the provision of security escorts to avoid reoccurrence of attacks during which many have lost their lives.

The drivers, who parked their trucks on March 30 at the Elegu border after a series of attacks on their colleagues, on Saturday, April 10 started crossing into South Sudan via Nimule border point to deliver merchandise following a big shortage in Juba, the capital and other towns.

The Ugandan drivers were joined by their colleagues from other neighbouring countries including Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya.

They protested against increasing incidents of insecurity along the major highways that led to many losing their lives and their vehicles burnt by South Sudan rebels.

Officials from Uganda arrive for a meeting with truck drivers at Elegu border with South Sudan

Godfrey Kafuuma, one of the Ugandan drivers said that Saturday, several drivers started crossing into South Sudan escorted by the military and several others followed on Sunday.

The most affected were transporters of fresh foods, some of which had started getting bad due to overstaying at the border.

This followed a meeting between the drivers and representatives from the government of South Sudan and Uganda at the Elegu border point.

The meeting was chaired by Geoffrey Oceng Osborn, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner (RDC).

The South Sudan director of customs Maj. Gen. Akol Ayii led the officials from his country and was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Johnson Juma Okot. The meeting was also attended by Sudi Mwatela Kauli, the chairperson of the East Africa Long Distance Truck Drivers Association.

The Ugandan officials and their counterparts from South Sudan at elegu border after a meeting during which truck drivers accepted to resume business

The Ugandan delegation included the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Edward Ochom and Brig Chris Ddamulira Sserunjogi, the director Crime Intelligence Unit and others.

During the meeting, the drivers demanded that the government of South Sudan compensates families of those who lost their dear ones and all the losses suffered including cash stolen, merchandise and vehicles burnt.

They also demanded that EAC partner states including Ethiopia and Eretria join the negotiations.

The drivers complained against exaggerated tariffs and asked the government of South Sudan to follow the standard tariff fares of the EAC region. They demanded the government to stop extortions along the way to South Sudan as well as the withdraw of roadblocks where officers keep demanding ransom and bribes

They also demanded that the same forces escort trucks returning to the border and that the escorting should continue until the road is safe enough to operate without any insecurities.