Kayihura warns public on Uganda-South Sudan ties

By Andrew Jeff Lule & Anne Mugisa

The Police chief, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has warned individuals disrupting relations between Uganda and South Sudan, saying they will be apprehended.

Kayihura said some people are spreading rumours that Ugandans are being tortured and killed by South Sudanese forces.

He said the South Sudanese and Ugandan governments have resolved to work together to dispel the rumours.

“We are going to hunt down those persons because we cannot allow any acts intended to hurt Uganda’s economy,” Kayihura said.

He, however, admitted that there were some cases of mistreatment, but they were exaggerated by extremists for selfish interests. He said some Ugandans were also involved in criminal activities in South Sudan.

On Thursday, while meeting the two Police chiefs and their delegations at his up-country ranch in Kisozi, Gomba district, President Yoweri  Museveni pledged support for the initiatives.

The Police chiefs over the weekend signed a memorandum of understanding for joint operations to eliminate criminality and ensure public safety on the Kampala-Juba highway.

He said the rumours have cost the two countries a lot including the recent traders’ strike.   

Kayihura disclosed that they have already established two operation monitoring centres at the border and an Interpol post in Juba.

The Interpol post represents both countries. The South Sudanese Police chief, Gen. Acuil Tito Madut, said cases of torture inflicted on Ugandan traders were isolated and committed by individuals, not the Government of South Sudan. He said crimes like highway robberies and fraud were done by individuals.

“We realized that some Ugandans ill their friends for selfish interests. That is why we want Ugandans operating in Juba to have a leader whom we can coordinate with to fight this in collaboration with the Uganda Police,” Madut said.

“We want to make sure there is equal treatment and respect of human rights for all,” he added.