The mayor of Torit Municipal Council, Eastern Equatoria State, on Wednesday warned traders against unjustified increases in commodity prices and demanded an immediate reduction, threatening to revoke the licenses of violators.
During a meeting with wholesalers, Mayor Oyito Baptist directed that all commodity prices be cut by 4%. He accused traders of raising prices without government approval, calling the practice illegal and harmful to consumers.
“Unnecessary price hikes on food items—without informing or requesting the government—are unacceptable,” Baptist said. “Those blaming exchange rates, demand, or supply conditions in Kampala must comply. Anyone found increasing prices will lose their license and be barred from doing business in Torit.”
A monitoring team will be formed to enforce price controls in local markets, he added.
Prices for staple foods, such as maize flour, have risen sharply from 175,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) to 230,000 SSP.
Traders, however, argue that high taxes and transport costs make reductions difficult.
Taban Richard, a Torit-based trader, told Radio Tamazuj that steep import duties on goods from Uganda, Kenya, and Dubai force businesses to raise prices to break even.
“We don’t want high prices—even my family struggles with them—but taxes and transportation costs leave us no choice,” he said.
Hidita Lily, chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce, warned that enforced price cuts could disrupt supply chains unless border taxes are lowered.
“Businesses are operating at a loss,” she said. “Without addressing the root cause, reducing prices will be unsustainable.”