Uganda and South Sudan’s trade and revenue systems have come under renewed scrutiny following the sacking of the Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority by President Salva Kiir, a move now linked to both governance failures and an illicit regional taxation scheme that threatened economic stability.
William Anyuol, the former Commissioner General, was relieved of his duties after revelations that the authority had imposed an illegal import levy on essential goods entering South Sudan, a policy that sharply increased food prices and raised fears of public unrest.
The levy, processed through the controversial NABE E-permit code, fell outside East African Community trade protocols and disrupted regional commerce, particularly along the Uganda–South Sudan corridor.
However, the illegal levy was not the sole trigger for the sweeping changes. Sources familiar with the decision-making process say the presidency was equally alarmed by a directive within the revenue authority that effectively banned tax payments through commercial banks, instead requiring taxpayers to remit duties in cash. The move dismantled established accountability systems, weakened audit trails, and opened the door to widespread corruption within customs and domestic tax collection.
The fallout was swift. In a series of presidential decrees issued on Monday evening, Kiir not only dismissed Anyuol but also relieved Rou Ayii as Deputy Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority. The shake-up extended beyond the tax body, with Barnaba Bak removed as Minister of Finance and Monica Achol relieved as Presidential Envoy to the Middle East, signaling a broader purge within the economic governance sector.
New appointments were announced immediately. Salvatore Garang Mabiordit was named Minister of Finance, while Moun Deng Ajuet was appointed the new Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority, with Solomon Arik taking over as Deputy Commissioner General. The rapid replacements suggest an urgent attempt to restore confidence in revenue administration and stem further leakage of public funds.
The sackings come amid growing regional concern that South Sudan’s internal revenue weaknesses were being exploited through cross-border networks. Investigators are examining alleged links between the illegal levy and officials within the Uganda Revenue Authority Enforcement Division, raising fears that weaknesses on one side of the border were amplifying corruption on the other.
Analysts say the combination of illegal taxation, cash-based collections, and compromised oversight created a parallel revenue system that undermined both state authority and regional trade. The latest changes mark one of the most decisive interventions by Kiir’s administration in recent years, but observers caution that lasting reform will depend on whether the new leadership dismantles the structures that enabled abuse in the first place.
