Uganda is set to enter into a bilateral agreement with neighbouring South Sudan to compensate Ugandan businesses that suffered heavy losses during the conflict in the country.
Under the deal, Uganda will pay out US$ 41.6 million to businesses with the expectation that South Sudan will reimburse the money.
Kampala believes the planned pay-out will revive lost hope, as well as boost the country’s economy.
South Sudan has been dogged by war since December 2013, following a fallout between President Salva Kiir and his then deputy, Riek Machar.
Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup against his rule, allegations Machar denied. Machar has since went on to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions more, prompting the United Nations to rank the country as Africa’s biggest refugee crisis.
More than one million of those South Sudanese refugees sought refuge in Uganda, with some continuing to arrive in the country each week.
Regional leaders and the international community have been piling pressure on South Sudan’s warring factions to engage in dialogue to end the conflict.
Last week, the South Sudan government said it was ready to engage in talks with Machar, so long as he renounced violence and sought residency outside the country.
Machar is currently in South Africa where he has been under house arrest since July 2015 when he flew there to seek medical attention.
