Businessmen in Yei County are calling for an end to illegal taxation by soldiers at roadside checkpoints and transparency in collection of taxes in general, according to reports by multiple media houses.

Yei Chamber of Commerce Chairman Tito Ayambu Zakondo said taxes are very high and ruining their business and affecting consumers, Spirit FM reported.

He urged the national, state and municipal governments to intervene to ensure ‘fair’ levying of taxes.

SPLA soldiers are reported to be collecting taxes from drivers and traders along the Yei-Kaya road, a distance of 76km, and on the Yei-Juba road, a distance of 149km. 

The Catholic Radio Network, which has its own FM station in Yei, confirmed the presence of such checkpoints, reporting today that there are “multiple and undocumented taxes being practiced at checkpoints along the major roads.”

Zakondo stated, “When they levy the taxes, they should have sensitized the traders, without getting abrupt that ‘You must pay this’ and then you must be forced…”

“So I urge all if there is any levy of taxes, we really need transparency and maybe I think awareness to the traders,” he added.

For its part, the army confirmed that soldiers are not supposed to be collecting taxes. SPLA spokesman Col. Philip Aguer, reached by Eye Radio for comment, explained that collection of revenue at checkpoints is the work of custom police.

He said no SPLA soldier is allowed to collect money from the public at any checkpoint.

File photo: Yei-Juba road