Uganda, South Sudan Move to End Border Disputes, Boost Cross-Border Trade

ARUA, Uganda — Uganda and South Sudan have launched a two-day Joint Border Bilateral Meeting in Arua aimed at strengthening cooperation on trade, security, customs, migration and community relations, as the two neighbours move to deepen economic ties and address longstanding border challenges.

The high-level meeting, convened by the Uganda Embassy in Juba in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies, seeks to operationalize a July 2025 directive issued by President Yoweri Museveni and South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit to institutionalize regular joint border engagements.

Officials from both countries are expected to agree on practical measures to improve cross-border trade, strengthen coordinated security operations, streamline customs and immigration procedures, and promote peaceful coexistence among border communities. The discussions are also intended to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers while enhancing intelligence sharing and joint patrols against cross-border crime.

Leading Uganda’s delegation, Ambassador Brig. Gen. Ronnie Balya described the meetings as a critical platform for advancing bilateral trade and ensuring government policies respond to the realities faced by border communities.

Uganda’s delegation at the talks

He identified four priority areas requiring urgent action: expanding trade and market access, improving customs and revenue administration, strengthening joint security efforts through intelligence cooperation and patrols, and enhancing migration management, public health surveillance and refugee coordination.

Amb. Balya also called for a lasting solution to recurring border provocations that have occasionally resulted in deadly clashes involving Ugandan and South Sudanese security forces. He revealed that a joint technical committee has been tasked with resolving border disputes by 2027, although progress has been slowed by inadequate funding.

South Sudan’s delegation is headed by Central Equatoria State Governor Anthony Emmanuel Adil, who urged both countries to accelerate implementation of the directives issued by Presidents Museveni and Kiir, saying decisive action would strengthen bilateral relations and improve the livelihoods of border communities.

By the close of the meeting, delegates are expected to adopt a roadmap outlining concrete actions to eliminate bottlenecks along the shared border and facilitate the seamless movement of goods through the Central and West Nile trade corridors. Senior officials from ministries responsible for foreign affairs, trade, defence, internal affairs, justice, lands and revenue administration are participating alongside local leaders, security officials and private sector representatives.

The team from South Sudan

The talks come as Uganda and South Sudan continue to strengthen one of East Africa’s busiest trading relationships. South Sudan is Uganda’s third-largest export market, with more than 600 cargo trucks crossing the Elegu-Nimule and Oraba-Kaya border posts daily during peak periods. The trade supports the livelihoods of more than four million people living in border communities on both sides of the frontier.