By Watchdog Uganda correspondent
JUBA — Questions are mounting over the political survival of South Sudan’s Security Advisor Tut Gatluak Manime and Upper Nile Caretaker Governor James Koang Chuol, following high-level allegations of clandestine political schemes and the suspected misappropriation of USD $3 million intended for election logistics.
A senior government source in Juba, speaking to Watchdog Uganda on condition of anonymity, alleged that the two top officials have engaged in unauthorized political maneuvers that have severely eroded President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s trust in them.
According to the source, central to the growing fallout is the suspected embezzlement of USD $3 million earmarked for election-related security and administrative logistics. The source indicated that high-level intelligence now points to the pair being relieved of their duties and arrested within three weeks.
“They have severely undermined the trust President Salva Kiir bestowed upon them, operating under the illusion that they are immune to scrutiny,” the source claimed on November 2. “It will not take more than three weeks before they are removed and arrested.”
Escalating Tensions Ahead of 2026 Polls
The embattled Dr. Tut Gatluak—a central figure in Juba’s security establishment who was recently photographed alongside President Kiir during state briefings—is reportedly facing severe internal pushback over the missing funds and political dealings.
While the allegations remain unconfirmed by an executive decree or formal police warrant, financial records and confidential documentation detailing the political deal and missing funds are reportedly circulating within state intelligence channels.
The development comes at a delicate moment for South Sudan, which is preparing for general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026. The country faces mounting international and regional pressure over election readiness, financial accountability, and fragile security arrangements under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Shifting Loyalties and Strategic Stakes
Tut Gatluak’s position as Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs makes him one of the most influential political brokers in the region, placing him at the center of national security reforms, peace implementation, and regional diplomacy.
His tenure, however, has seen dramatic shifts. In January 2025, Kiir reassigned Gatluak as Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Ambassador to Kuwait, before reinstating him to the national security portfolio in November 2025. This latest wave of allegations involving political dealings and missing election funds threatens to permanently kick him out of Kiir’s inner circle.
Equally affected is James Koang Chuol, the Caretaker Governor of Upper Nile State. At his swearing-in ceremony on September 25, 2026, President Kiir explicitly directed caretaker governors to exercise absolute neutrality, safeguard public resources, and ensure state funds are not diverted for partisan interests.
As a key frontline region, financial transparency and security coordination in Upper Nile are critical to the broader electoral timeline, amplifying the seriousness of the allegations against Koang.
Constitutional Standards vs. Political Speculation
Under Chapter III (Section 194 & 195) of South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution (2011), all public officers running for or managing electoral processes are required to strictly adhere to principles of integrity, neutrality, and lawful handling of state affairs.
While political speculation continues to build in Juba, observers note that for these claims to hold legal weight, concrete evidence—including bank records and audit reports detailing the USD $3 million transaction—must be formally presented by state prosecutors.
Efforts by Watchdog Uganda to reach Dr. Tut Gatluak and Governor James Koang Chuol for comment were unsuccessful by press time, as both officials have remained out of the public eye.
With the 3-week window now ticking, all eyes remain on the State House (J-1) to see whether President Kiir will execute a major executive crackdown or order formal investigative proceedings.
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