Arua Central MP, Jackson Lee Atima has petitioned the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to address pressing concerns affecting cross-border trade between Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Sudan.
The petition was submitted as the EALA sitting in Kampala came to a close on Tuesday.
The persistent harassment of Ugandan traders in South Sudan and DRC is unacceptable,” Atima stated.
“We need urgent intervention to protect our traders and promote seamless trade among our nations.”
Atima’s concerns come amid reports of increased harassment and intimidation of Ugandan traders in both South Sudan and DRC. This has led to fears of strained relations among the East African Community (EAC) member states.
The petition seeks to address these concerns and promote economic cooperation among the EAC member states.
As the EALA considers Atima’s petition, the fate of cross-border trade and regional cooperation hangs in the balance.
