Six Ugandans Arrested for Illegal Logging in South Sudan Released

Authorities in South Sudan have released six Ugandans who were arrested from Magwi County Eastern Equatorial for illegal logging.

The six are Richard Otto, Gaetano John Bosco Ouma, Michael Onono, Richard Ocaya, Geoffrey Onen and Geoffrey Kilama, all residents of Okidi North Village in Atiak Sub County Amuru district.   

They were arrested on Tuesday last week while reportedly found cutting trees in Magwi County and later detained by the army.   

However, the six were released on Tuesday after one week in detention and handed over to the Ugandan authorities following negotiation between the countries led by Amuru Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Geoffrey Osborn Oceng and his South Sudanese counterpart David Otto, the Commissioner for Magwi County.   

Oceng told URN that upon release the six recorded statements at Elegu police station in Uganda and later handed over to their relatives.   

The security in Uganda has equally commenced an investigation against the six on how they accessed the South Sudan territory and their motives.   

Oceng noted that the release of the six Ugandans is a means of strengthening relationships between the two countries.

On Sunday, four Ugandan drivers were shot dead by unknown gunmen on Yei-Juba highway while heading to Juba for business. The incident occurred between Ganji (Lanya County), 65kms to Juba and Kullipa, which is 58kms to Juba on Yei-Juba road in South Sudan.

The dead were identified as Stephen Amati, Dada Abugo, Ali Sonny and Sadam Noah.