South Sudan claims Moyo land, arrests 6 Uganda MPs

Mar 09, 2012

MPs have asked government to prevent armed persons from Sudan from controlling parts of Moyo district and claiming it is part of South Sudan.

By John Odyek and Joyce Namutebi

The presidential and foreign affairs committee has asked government to prevent armed persons from Sudan from controlling parts of Moyo district and claiming it is part of South Sudan.

The committee wants government to beef up security along the border to prevent violent clashes, death and loss of property.

The call comes following the arrests and detention of six Uganda MPs and a clerk of Parliament by armed persons who said they are authorities from South Sudan.

The MPs were arrested on March 1 after they had gone on a fact finding mission regarding violent clashes along the Sudan-Uganda border.

Hood Katurama, deputy chairperson of the committee told Parliament on Wednesday they were arrested in Moyo district in former refugee camps that was occupied by Sudanese.

Katuramu who led the delegation, informed the House that many of the Sudanese refugees have returned home but those remaining in the camps together with Sudanese authorities control the place like it was part of Sudan.

"We were supposed to visit Moyo, Koboko and Yumbe to see how people have been affected, see what action has been taken and recommend further action. After we set off from Moyo, we were surrounded by armed men pointing guns at us.

They held us for two hours and locked some members of our delegation. Some of members were traumatized and we decided to return to Kampala after the ordeal," Katuramu said.

Adding: "The border is porous. There have been incursions along the border, abductions of Ugandans, destruction of property. We were in Moyo and not South Sudan where we were held. They have violated integrity of Uganda's border.

Government needs to look into. Some Sudanese go back freely and send their children in UPE and USE schools".
The delegation that was held up included two Police officers from Parliament and seven from Moyo including the LCV chairman, chief administrative officer, two district councilors, three elders, six farmers. Others were the committee economist, district internal security officer, district police commander, deputy district chairperson.

Muruli Mukasa minister for security said government has engaged authorities of South Sudan to ensure there was peace and security along the border. Mukasa said government wants the border to be survey and demarcations made clear to reduce future border disputes.

"There have been talks. There are high level talks between President Yoweri Museveni and President Salva Kiir to resolve the border issues," Mukasa explained. He said government would investigate the arrests of the MP and make a report to Parliament.

MPs asked government to compensate the people of West Nile who had lost their animals and property due to border clashes.

 

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