Kampala — The government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has promised to help Ugandan traders recover their money that was lost to various Sudanese for failure to honour their trade contractual obligations.

Ador Akok, the acting Principal Liaison Officer, for the GoSS in Uganda, said his government had begun the process of verifying different claims and would thereafter establish the basis to help.

He was, however, quick to add that every claim must be supported by documentations so that the process is smooth.

"Much as most of these business cases are between individual Ugandans and Sudanese traders, our government is ready to take appropriate actions should any claimant prove the allegations with genuine documentation," he said in an interview.

Ador said in most cases, government may not pay directly from the national coffers but will ensure that culprits are forced to comply with the legal system of the land.

"We shall compel them to pay as long as we find out that there were injustices in the deals in which our brothers, the Ugandan traders, lost money," he said.

Victimised traders are demanding that the GoSS compensate them with sh14b for the loss of merchandise, cash and assets, which include impounded but never released commercial vehicles.

Through their umbrella body, the Joint Action for the Redemption of Ugandan Traders in Sudan (JARUTS), traders expressed dismay that the GoSS had continued ignoring its people as they commit crimes with impunity.

The body comprises of 370 members and was formed to address issues affecting the smooth running of business in Southern Sudan.

Ador, however, said people should not look at such cases as a general picture reflecting the relationship between the two countries, for thousands of Ugandan traders were running prosperous multi-million businesses in Southern Sudan.

He said there were many pending cases, where Sudanese accuse Ugandans of cases such as fraud.

"We are ready to attend to every complaint and take appropriate actions but it won't be easy, to considerpeople who lack documents" Ador said.