Tax Disputes Erupt Between Juba and Eastern Equatoria

(TORIT) – The Eastern Equatoria State Transitional Legislative Assembly has summoned four senior officials to explain irregularities in tax collection and concerns over interference by national government agents operating within the state.

The officials summoned include the Commissioner for the State Revenue Authority, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Traffic, and the Director of the Fire Brigade.

The decision was announced by Charles Longoli Amute, Chairperson of the Assembly’s Committee on Information, Communication and Postal Services, during a sitting convened to review the harmonised tax schedule for the 2025 to 2026 financial year.

Longoli noted that several issues remain unresolved in the state’s tax framework.

“There are still many issues to clarify. Members moved a motion to summon these officials for explanation,” he said.

A major concern raised during the session was the reported interference from national government agents allegedly sent from Juba. These agents have been accused of undermining the authority of local tax officers.

“People from Juba are chasing away state tax collectors,” Longoli said. “This interference makes our revenue records inaccurate.”

Lawmakers warned that continued obstruction from national actors could trigger political consequences.

“We are frustrated,” Longoli added. “If these gamblers from Juba continue, we in the August House will act.”

The dispute over revenue administration dates back to December 2024, when the Eastern Equatoria State Parliament established a committee led by Speaker Charles Odwar. The committee was tasked with engaging the national government after the closure of the Nimule revenue office, a key collection point along the South Sudan–Uganda border.

No specific figures were disclosed regarding lost revenue or current collections, but the disruption is viewed as a potential blow to Eastern Equatoria’s local development efforts, many of which rely on internal revenue allocations.

The harmonised tax schedule under review aims to streamline and formalise tax rates across various sectors to ensure predictability and fair contribution. Lawmakers are pushing for clarity on how collections are handled and whether national agents have a legal mandate to intervene in state operations.

The summons are expected to bring the concerned officials before the Assembly in Torit for questioning in the coming days. Lawmakers are hoping to use the opportunity to reassert state autonomy over local taxation and ensure revenue integrity is protected from external interference.

The outcome of the standoff in Eastern Equatoria may set a precedent for how similar tax disputes are addressed across other states as South Sudan continues to grapple with governance reforms and federal-state power dynamics.