Residents and traders in South Sudan’s Kaya town in Morobo County of Central Equatoria State have lauded the resumption of commerce in the border town and say restaurants, lodges, petrol stations, and shops are now operational after a six-year lull.
The locals who spoke to Radio Tamazuj over the weekend said the spread of violence to the area in 2016 affected businesses and forced the local population to relocate to the Oraba border town in Uganda.
Christine Amani, who runs a restaurant in Kaya town, said the situation is improving in the area and that life is returning to normal.
“We have seen that business activities picking up here and some Ugandans and Congolese are selling their business goods here,” she said.
According to Amani, the town’s population has increased with people returning, and her restaurant sells food to locals and travelers. She urged the government to rehabilitate the roads to help boost cross-border trade.
“I operate a restaurant here and we want good roads from Kaya to Morobo and Yei because currently, the road is in a poor state,” she said. “We also want the government and finance companies to support us with business loans and money transfer services so that we can expand our businesses in Kaya town.”
On his part, Danis Samson, a resident of Kaya town, said businesses have resumed providing services to the local population and travelers.
“Kaya is picking up in terms of business and one good thing we have seen here is that a popular lodge called Standard Lodge which was closed down due to the crisis has resumed providing accommodation and food,” he said. “Also, wholesale depots are now selling sugar, milk, and other mixed goods. Petrol stations have reopened and a good number of local restaurants are working and if you come to Kaya, you will not starve.”
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the chamber of commerce in Morobo County, Antony Gaga, appreciated the resumption of business in Kaya but urged the government to improve security, protect traders and reduce taxes.
“Security is very important for business so that we can move and operate freely. We already have wholesale shops open in Kaya town and we call on the government to support us and ensure that the local traders are not highly taxed,” he said. “We know that the government taxes traders to provide services but we are just resuming businesses here and we should not be over-taxed.”
Kaya town is located on the border with Uganda and is a strategic entry and supply route which used to be very active before the conflict reached the area in 2016.