By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Ugandan authorities in Koboko District of West Nile region are relocating South Sudanese who had sought refuge in border areas like Busia and Oraba.
A total of about 1,000 civilians have been moved from the bordering communities and various resettlements within West Nile Region.
The relocation follows reported surge in incidents of killings, kidnappings, and looting of civilian property. Perpetrators of these incidents are armed groups believed to be elements of Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO), led by Dr. Riek Machar, and National Salvation Front (NAS) militia, led by Gen. Thomas Cirilo Swaka.
Koboko District Local Council Chairperson, Asraf Mambo confirmed that many of the attacks, including killings, occurred in Busia.
He noted that the armed men originated from Panyume area in South Sudan’s Morobo County in Central Equatoria State.
“Armed men come at night, rob, and torture people,” Mambo stated. “As security officers, we are conducting a cleanup operation. Those who came from established settlements will be returned, and those who recently fled South Sudan and settled in border areas will also be relocated to settlements. This is crucial for us to identify the criminals.’
Mambo further revealed that during the cleanup exercise, several suspects linked to the armed militants in South Sudan were arrested and handed over to the Uganda military for further investigation.
While he did not specify the exact number of arrests, Mambo indicated that the majority were from the SPLA-IO, many of whom have been engaging in “hit-and-run” operations, instilling fear among Ugandan civilians and refugees along the South Sudan-Uganda border.
Meanwhile, a top security officer in Koboko, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to administrative reasons, confirmed that over 1,000 South Sudanese have already been relocated and resettled.
The majority of the individuals originated from Busia, Kegira, and other areas.
The security officer attributed the proliferation of firearms in Uganda, with some destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.
“As security, we registered two cases of armed smuggling,” the officer explained. “One individual was arrested in Arua, en route to Congo. In another incident, armed men crossed into Koboko District, specifically Busia, via the Kaya River, and fired 50 rounds of ammunition.”
The officer added that after firing bullets into the air, the militants robbed civilians of 18 million Ugandan shillings before retreating to South Sudan.
The following night, another armed group attacked a village, abducting one civilian across the River Kaya and demanding a ransom of 10 million Ugandan shillings. The abductee was released upon payment of 500,000 Ugandan shillings.
“There are still some Ugandans held hostage in the Panyume area, and they are demanding a ransom of one million Ugandan shillings for each person,” the officer revealed. “The other day, a Ugandan was shot on the hill at the SSPDF checkpoint.”
The army officer confirmed that two civilians have been killed, and their bodies have not yet been recovered from the crime scenes. Additionally, 18 other civilians are reportedly held hostage, both within South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) controlled territories and in rebel-held areas.
He emphasized that refugee regulations prohibit refugees from settling within 50 kilometers of the border.
He noted that many individuals involved in the South Sudan conflict have exploited this proximity by operating businesses in South Sudan during the day and crossing into Uganda to sleep at night, only to engage in robbery, abduction, ransom demands, and killings against ordinary civilians.
The army commander stressed that the relocation and resettlement of South Sudanese from border areas to official refugee settlements aim to protect the lives and property of both Ugandans and South Sudanese refugees.
He appealed to the warring parties in South Sudan, stating, “South Sudan is bigger than all of them.”
He urged dialogue as the only means to resolve the current security situation, emphasizing that continued conflict would only lead to more loss of life.
“If people talk and South Sudan stabilizes, then all of us will be very happy. Because a neighbor’s heart can’t be burning, and you feel that you are safe in your heart,” he concluded.
When contacted for comment regarding the number of Ugandan civilians allegedly held hostage by the SSPDF army in Morobo County, Central Equatoria State, Maj. Gen. Lual Rual Koang responded via text message: “I have received the correct version of the events, but I won’t comment now because approval to go on is required from the high command, who is currently in a meeting.”