The two suspects Johnson Lapyem Lotiang and John Lokore, all residents of Tseretenya Bomah, Ikotos County of the Eastern Equatorial State were handed over to the South Sudan authorities at Apiriti border post in Madi Opei Sub County on Monday.
The Madi Opei Urban Council LC III Chairperson Abdallah Jumah Jaleh says one of the suspects was arrested at around 5:30 am on Sunday morning a few meters to a community cattle kraal at Gere village in Kal Parish.
The settlement initially opened in 2017 sits on a 50 square miles’ piece of land donated by host communities in Palabek Ogilli and parts of Palabek Gem Sub-counties. Although it was initially meant to accommodate 40,000 refugees and asylum seekers, its capacity was increased to 60,000 after the Office of the Prime Minister-OPM acquired more land.
Through their lawyer Oyet and Company Advocates, the pastoralists have filed a civil suit at Gulu High Court seeking redress against a decision reached by the leaders on October 21. They argue that the decision to forcefully evict them from Palabek County was illegal and a violation of their rights.
Kidega says the agreement stems from violent clashes between the two clans that occurred last week where at least 5 people were critically injured, over 20 huts set ablaze and unspecified household property destroyed and stolen.
Suzan Opok Tumusiime, the Executive Director FAWEU told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that the report is part of a national study conducted in 25 districts to assess the impact of COVID-19 among girls and young women.
The soldiers had reportedly encroached into Ugandan territory and erected a roadblock one and a half kilometres from Ngomoromo border post in Lokung sub-county.
Security personnel at Ngomoromo border checkpoint who sought anonymity for fear of reprisal said that the armed men invaded the Ugandan territory on Monday night and erected a roadblock at Lakolori, a kilometre from the previous checkpoint in Otwilo all territories on the Ugandan side.
Hillary Onek, the Minister for Refugees and Disaster Preparedness in the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday said that the funds will be channelled through Don Bosco Vocational Training Centre, a missionary owned Centre in Palabek Sub County established last year.
The Refugee Welfare Council Chairperson, Robert Ocan says the clash between the two groups started from a dispute over a piece of land that was allocated to the refugees by the host community for cultivation.
Under the open door Policy, the government has been accepting refugees from any Part of the world and once an individual is granted a refugee status, he or she is free to move, work and even open a business in line with the 2006 Refugee Act.
Lamwo LC V Chairperson, John Komakech Ogwok has tasked UNHCR and OPM to step up their efforts in ensuring that service delivery in major sectors like health and education is maintained.
Kamuze says that the majority of the refugees are fleeing biting hunger coupled with poverty and insecurity from Imatong state while others are seeking for better social services in Uganda. He says 60 per cent of the refugees are women and seemingly malnourished children.
The solder identified as James Onyango, a Lance Corporal attached to SPLA’s Lion Battalion was arrested on 19 March 28, 2019 armed with an AK47 gun Reg: No. Bm-9640 with 59 rounds and two empty magazines.
