The security situation at Tsertenya at the Uganda and South Sudan border remains tense after the Uganda People’s Defense Force reportedly raided an unspecified number of cattle.
The suspects are said to have gone away with an AK47 gun belonging to a herder who was looking after cattle.
The Ugandan forces allegedly encroached the South Sudan territory, shooting at cattle herders but no casualties were reported.
On November 13, Ugandan authorities met their South Sudan counterparts at Madi Opei to dialogue over the border, where they resolved to end hostilities.
Ikotos County Commissioner Timon Loboi told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the incident happened at around 1pm.
He said the border residents were desperate and living in fear and panic.
“Yesterday (Sunday) at around 1pm, there was an incident where the UPDF raided cattle from Nangolojore and the youth followed their footmarks to a place called Lotala, where their animals drink,” he said.
“The mood of all the people there is scary as they all do not want to talk. This needs intervention from our Government,” he added.
Eastern Equatoria Information and Communication Minister, who doubles as Government Spokesperson, Elia John Ahaji, confirmed the incident, saying the Government was in communication with Uganda.
He said tensions along the border remained high with worries of possible escalation.
Ahaji urged the border communities to desist from provoking one another and embark on peaceful co-existence.
He said the two governments would soon engage the border communities to devise means of sharing their resources.
“We will continue to sensitize those communities living along the border to desist from provoking their neighbors and destabilizing their peace. We will embark on sensitization of both communities and then engage the two countries so that our people can share the limited resources,” he added.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Northern Uganda’s Lamwo District Resident Commissioner William Komakech denied the allegations, saying the cattle were seized by civilians for encroaching the grazing points.
He, however, said the confiscated cattle were currently in their hands, safe and awaiting to be handed over to the rightful owners
“It was not a raid but the cattle were impounded at the border of Apiriti. The cattle were impounded and they are safe and at the border. There is no problem and we are meeting tomorrow,” he said.
The post South Sudan-Uganda border tense over alleged UPDF cattle raid appeared first on Radio Tamazuj.
