By Frank Mugabi

RESIDENTS of Obongi county in Moyo district on Friday held special prayers to bid farewell to the Sudanese refugees, who are returning home after 20 years in exile.

The occasion, which was held at Itula Primary School and presided over by the out-going Bishop of Arua Diocese, Fredrick Drandua, coincided with the annual Obongi Day celebrations.

However, the crowd was disappointed when President Yoweri Museveni and his Southern Sudan counterpart, Salva Kiir, did not turn up, despite being invited.

The resident district commissioner, John Abingwa, said Museveni, who had earlier confirmed his attendance, was caught up in a last-minute commitment.

Kiir sent his apologies although the head of the Sudan consulate in Gulu, Adam Mohamed, and his deputy, Mubarak Mahgoub attended.

An official from the UN refugee agency said over 8,400 refugees had been repatriated to Southern Sudan this year. He revealed that as a gesture of appreciating the Obongi people for their hospitality, the UN will assist in various local development projects starting with the construction of a multipurpose resource centre.

Obongi MP Hassan Fungaro said the local people should be recognised for providing water, food and shelter to the refugees before the humanitarian agencies came on board.