Food Exports to South Sudan Suspended

The Nation Millers Association, representing grain dealers in Uganda, has decided to suspend food exports to South Sudan due to a trade crisis at the Nimule border. Over 70 trucks loaded with maize have been stranded for nearly two months after South Sudan raised concerns about the quality of the grains. The South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) impounded the trucks, alleging contamination with aflatoxin, a toxin that can be harmful to humans.

Ugandan traders expressed concern about South Sudan's decision to destroy maize flour estimated at about Shs10 billion. They questioned the transparency of the tests conducted by South Sudan and highlighted the fact that the same maize exported to other markets, including Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and the local market, has never been deemed unfit for human consumption.

The traders argued that destroying the maize flour would tarnish Uganda's reputation in the regional food market, as the country is known as a food basket in the region. They warned that if the detained trucks are not unconditionally released within four days, they would halt their activities as processors, exporters, transporters, and drivers of food items to South Sudan.

Efforts to resolve the impasse have been unsuccessful, with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) referring the matter to political leaders. The Ministry of Trade in Uganda has been engaging with South Sudanese counterparts to find a lasting solution. Destroying food would go against the trade protocols of the East African Community, to which both Uganda and South Sudan are signatories.

The trade dispute follows a similar situation with Kenya, where Ugandan maize exports were banned due to concerns about aflatoxin contamination. Tanzania has also faced difficulties in exporting maize to Kenya due to quality concerns. These incidents highlight the challenges in regional trade despite agreements on the free movement of goods within the East African Community.