The South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in an effort to curb smuggling, illegal dumping, and tax evasion that affect cross-border trade between the two neighboring countries.
The agreement follows a high-level meeting held on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, at the URA headquarters in Kampala, where a delegation led by SSRA Commissioner General William Anyuon Kuol met with John Musinguzi, Chief of the Uganda Revenue Authority.
The discussions centered on addressing revenue leakages and enhancing trade facilitation mechanisms to promote legitimate trade flows.
In a joint commitment, the two revenue authorities resolved to enhance coordination and implement concrete measures to maximize domestic revenue collections while safeguarding lawful cross-border trade.
Officials emphasized the importance of closer collaboration in tackling practices that undermine fair trade and government revenues.
Among the major resolutions reached during the meeting was addressing the growing practice of cargo rerouting, which has been used to evade taxes and customs duties.
The two authorities agreed that any rerouting of goods would now require prior joint authorization from both SSRA and URA. This measure is expected to close loopholes that have facilitated revenue losses.
To further strengthen oversight, the leaders established a joint technical committee tasked with closely monitoring and addressing issues related to Ugandan-manufactured goods exported to South Sudan.
The bilateral committee will work to improve information sharing, enhance compliance enforcement, and resolve emerging trade-related concerns promptly.
The officials also agreed to strictly enforce the electronic permit system for all goods destined for South Sudan.
The system is intended to enhance transparency and traceability, reduce opportunities for fraud, and ensure accurate declaration of goods.
According to the two authorities, the strengthened collaboration is expected to significantly reduce smuggling and under-declaration of goods, while promoting fair trade practices and improving revenue mobilization in both countries.
The move underscores the commitment of South Sudan and Uganda to deepen economic cooperation and foster a more secure and efficient cross-border trading environment.
