Since 2011, Uganda has emerged as South Sudan’s biggest trading partner in East Africa, exporting goods worth 280 million US Dollars at the climax of trade ties in 2013.
Ugandan exports to South Sudan dropped to 260 million US Dollars in 2014 during the two-year conflict in the country, The Standard reports.
As South Sudan joins the East African Community and establishes a Transitional Government of National Unity, Kenya aims at overtaking Uganda in earning from South Sudan.
Kenya has major firms such as commercial banks in South Sudan, but Uganda had been dominating businesses in the country.
The East African Community should capitalize on tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, says Hezron Gikang’a, the author of a publication, ‘Why Kenyan traders can’t ignore South Sudan?’