By William Madouk
Eastern Equatoria State governor, Luis Lobong Lojore, and five key ministers may be summoned to the parliament to clarify the alleged killing of 12 South Sudanese by Ugandan wildlife wardens in Budi County.
Legislator representing Budi County in the national assembly, Oreste Lopara said twelve South Sudanese were allegedly shot dead by Ugandan wildlife rangers and wounded others.
“I stand here to draw the attention of the House that on Sunday, July 12, 2024, twelve people perished in Budi County and two others were wounded by the Ugandan wildlife wardens,” said Lopara.
He added that this was not the first time nationals got killed in the hands of foreigners.
“I, therefore, request this House to summon the minister of Wildlife and Conservation, Minister of Interior and minister of Foreign Affairs, Defence and governor of EES to explain to this House what measures they have taken,” he appealed.
“And what can be done so that our people will not continue to die in the foreign hands in this country,” MP continued.
Media reports quoted authorities in Budi County that 12 nationals suspected of poaching were killed by Ugandan wildlife rangers in Kidepo Valley.
Akelio Mboya, the commissioner of Budi stressed that more than 12 young people in the area had crossed to Kidepo Valley in an attempt to poach wildlife, however, rangers opened guns at them leading to the killing of 12 people.
On the contrary, the Ugandan-based media outlet placed the death toll of South Sudanese at 4.
The digital media – tndNews claimed that about 4 firearms were recovered after the incident.
Besides, Mboya condemned the incident and called on ministry of wildlife to consider deploying forces at the border to avoid such incidents in the future.