Business Community Pushes Back Against Juba Garbage Fee Increase

(JUBA) — The Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce is calling for the immediate suspension of a planned increase in garbage collection fees by the Juba City Council, warning that the move could further drain businesses already facing high operating costs and economic pressure.

Speaking at a press briefing in Juba on Tuesday, Chamber Chairperson Robert Pitia Francis said the proposed fee hike was introduced without adequate consultation with the business community.

He described the decision as unilateral and inconsistent with established financial and legal procedures governing local taxation.

Pitia said local governments, including the Juba City Council, are mandated to provide essential services such as waste management, road maintenance and public health, and are also empowered to collect taxes.

However, he said any changes to taxes and service fees must follow due process, including stakeholder consultations and approval within the financial year framework.

“The financial year normally begins in July. Any tax changes are supposed to go through consultations with the business community and be tabled for approval. This process has not been followed,” Pitia said.

According to a document seen by this publication, the revised garbage fee structure has sharply increased charges across business categories.

Large warehouses that previously paid about 225,000 South Sudanese pounds per month are now being charged up to 1.575 million pounds, an increase of more than 500%.

Medium-sized businesses have also seen steep increases, with monthly fees rising from about 120,000 pounds to roughly 840,000 pounds under the new structure.

Pitia warned that the increases could force businesses to shut down or scale back operations, noting that many traders are already struggling with inflation, high fuel prices and currency depreciation.

“Businesses are closing every day. Some relocate to other states, others simply shut down. These are not isolated cases,” he said.

He estimates that about 100 businesses shut down every month due to the current economic situation.

The Chamber of Commerce Leader further questioned the legal basis of the revised garbage fees, arguing that they were introduced outside the approved budget cycle and without parliamentary endorsement.

“There is no clear legal basis for these increments. Taxes must be introduced through a proper budget process. What is happening now is outside that framework,” Pitia said.

Juba has long faced challenges in solid waste management, with irregular garbage collection, limited infrastructure and funding constraints contributing to waste buildup in markets, residential areas and drainage systems.

The city council relies on internally generated revenue, donor support and private contractors for waste collection. However, rapid urban growth and expanding commercial activity have outpaced available capacity.

In recent years, authorities have introduced additional garbage trucks and partnered with development agencies to improve services. Despite these efforts, waste collection remains inconsistent, particularly in densely populated commercial areas in the city.

Pitia said the Chamber of Commerce is not opposed to service charges but is calling for transparency and consultation in setting them.

“We are ready to work with the technical committee to find a sustainable solution. But this must be done through dialogue, not imposition,” he said.

He urged the Juba City Council and state authorities to suspend the planned increase until consultations are completed and the next financial cycle begins.

Pitia also called for broader tax harmonization reforms to reduce what he described as overlapping and unpredictable levies that discourage investment and business growth.

The Chamber warned that continued pressure on businesses could lead to closures, job losses and reduced long-term revenue collection.

“If businesses close, there will be no one left to tax. The government must protect the very people who generate its revenue,” Pitia said.

He called for a more predictable and supportive business environment, arguing that sustainable revenue collection depends on a functioning private sector.