Chaos ensued on Friday 11th/11/2022 morning at Lobida market In Arua city by the fish blockers and the retailers while demanding for the Uganda Revenue Authority to open the gate of south Sudanese Fish Traders’ store following the triple tax penalty that was levied on them due to the allegation of under charge at the weighing bridge in Elegu border point by officials.
The angry blockers and the fish sellers wanted to break the gate of the store that provoked the security officials that were deployed to guide the place to shoot bullets on air to disperse them.
The Uganda police force rushed immediately to the scene to calm the situation but found when the leaders of south Sudanese Fish Traders have already handled the situation.
The officer in charge of Police for Arua city Julius Jokenda appealed to the community to remains calms as they are working hard to solve the problems.
The Division Mayor of Arua, Khemis Muzaid similarly advised the south Sudanese FIsh Traders to be calm as they are fixing up the problem.
Last week Uganda revenue authority [URA] officials intercepted five trucks belonging to the South Sudanese fish traders on an allegation of being under weighed when they had paid over Ugx 7 million as taxed that was levied on them.
Currently, there are seven trucks fully loaded with fish that are being intercepted by the Uganda revenue authority, two of the trucks are in Gulu, three in Pakwach and two in Arua all are under the custody of Uganda revenue authority.
The chairperson of Arua city south Sudanese fish Traders association, Mathew Thon said that the penalty that was levied on them for the two trucks that were verified by URA in Arua are very high which is forcing them to leave the business and go back to South Sudan .
Abraham Thon one of the South Sudanese demands that Uganda revenue authority to give back their fish and they can relocate back to their home country.
By press time the effort to reach the Uganda Revenue Authority was futile as they did not pick several calls made to them.
The Uganda Revenue Authority has charged the south Sudanese fish traders for the two trucks that were verified Ugx 233 million as penalty for the alleged under weigh of the fish at Elegu border point.
STORY BY: ANWANGKANI FRANCO - Daily West Nile
