Two Ugandan transport workers have been shot dead in an ambush on a road in South Sudan, raising fresh concern over the safety of the cargo routes that carry goods across East Africa.

The victims were a Ugandan truck driver and his turn man, who were transporting cargo when they were attacked by an unknown armed group on a road to Kapoeta Township, east of the capital Juba. The driver was named as Jamil Kawooya. The name of his turn man has not been reported.

No group has been identified as responsible for the attack, and the South Sudanese authorities have not yet said who carried it out or whether the two men were deliberately targeted.

Attacks on foreign drivers have repeatedly disrupted trade on South Sudan's roads in recent years, with drivers' groups warning that the risk of ambush, robbery and extortion pushes up the cost of moving goods into the country.

A dangerous corridor for cargo

The killing comes three weeks after transporters raised concerns about attacks, harassment and illegal charges at a Uganda-South Sudan business forum. Transporters say drivers remain exposed on the main routes despite earlier assurances that the roads would be made safer.

Drivers have also previously staged a blockade at the Elegu border crossing, disrupting cargo movements between Uganda and South Sudan after complaints about harassment, illegal fees and poor road conditions along the Nimule-Juba corridor.

The routes matter because trucks carry the goods that businesses and households depend on, including food, fuel, construction materials and consumer products. When drivers face attacks or repeated delays, transporters may have to spend more on security, allow longer delivery times or charge more to cover the risk.

Calls for answers on route security

Transporters want the South Sudanese authorities to establish who carried out the attack, whether the victims were targeted and what security measures are in place along the Juba-Kapoeta road. Uganda's government has also been urged to confirm the identities of the victims and explain what support is being provided to their families.

Previous agreements between the two sides had promised fewer unnecessary roadblocks, the cancellation of unlawful fees and stronger security along key routes. Transporters say the central question now is whether those commitments are being enforced.

The attack comes as South Sudan prepares for a general election on 22 December, with insecurity on its roads already a long-standing concern for traders and drivers moving goods into the country. For businesses, the issue is straightforward: regional trade depends on goods moving reliably and at a predictable cost, and when drivers cannot travel safely, the whole supply chain carries the risk.