CES: Revenue collection affected by conflict

An official in charge of revenue in Central Equatoria says the collection of revenue has been affected by the violence in the country.

Many businesses have closed down in Juba since the unrest started three weeks ago.

Imports from Uganda through Nimule have also been on the decline.

The Commissioner General of state Revenue Authority, Michael Amule Joseph, told Eye Radio that it has not been possible to collect revenue through taxes because of the conflict.

“Business has been affected in Juba because businesses are not in full swing and it affects collection because businessmen have closed down shops and so forth. With the insecurity, many people in the business are operating below capacity,” he said.

Mr. Amule said the state will assess at the end of this month the amount it has lost through a lack of revenue.

Meanwhile, Ugandan officials say that the average daily revenue collection of about 3.6 million Ugandan shillings has been cut by half because of the fighting.

Uganda’s head of customs at Elegu border, Paul Walukyesi, says that before the conflict started, up to 500 trucks crossed the border at Gulu – Nimule road daily but that the flow has now dropped to fewer than 20 trucks.