South Sudan: Security Advisor Tut Gatluak, Upper Nile Governor Face Arrest Threat over Alleged $3M Election Fund Heist

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reports that South Sudan’s Security Advisor Tut Gatluak Manime and Upper Nile Caretaker Governor James Koang Chuol are facing mounting scrutiny over allegations tied to political maneuvering and the suspected misuse of US$3 million meant for election logistics. The article says the claims were relayed by a senior government source in Juba who spoke anonymously and suggested the pair had lost the confidence of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

According to the source, the disputed funds were intended for election-related security and administrative work, and internal intelligence is said to be examining whether the money was diverted. The report says the allegations have not been confirmed by an official decree or a police warrant, and no formal charges were presented in the article. Watchdog Uganda also said it was unable to reach Gatluak or Koang for comment.

The story places the controversy in the wider context of South Sudan’s preparations for general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026, and ongoing concerns about security, public finance and implementation of the 2018 peace agreement. It also notes that Gatluak, a prominent national security figure, has held shifting roles under Kiir, while Koang was instructed at his swearing-in to maintain neutrality and protect state resources.

The article says observers would still need documentary evidence, such as bank records or audit findings, before the allegations could carry legal weight. For now, it presents the matter as a politically sensitive claim circulating in Juba rather than a proven case.