Sudanese settle in Kidepo
Jun 21, 2006
<br>ARMED Toposa pastoralists from southern Sudan have entered Kidepo national park with their families and hundreds of cattle.
By Nathan Etengu
ARMED Toposa pastoralists from southern Sudan have entered Kidepo national park with their families and hundreds of cattle.
Kaabong district internal security officer Geoffrey Okello said on Saturday the Toposa had occupied Lowapet sector, an ostrich breeding ground in the park.
“We have communicated to them through their leaders and advised them to withdraw from the area,†Okello said.
He, however, said the Toposa, whom he described as heavily armed, complained of lack of pasture on their side of the border.
The commanding officer of the UPDF 3rd division, Col. Gavas Mugyenyi, also said, “The report of their presence in the national park is known. However, we are yet to know their exact numbers and their capacity.â€
He said the government often consulted the leadership of the Toposa when they strayed into the national park.
The UPDF has on many occasion flushed out the Toposa from the national park over complaints that they poached wildlife.
Okello said the Uganda Wildlife authority (UWA) in consultation with the district had approached the southern Sudan district commissioner for Narus over the presence of the pastoralists in the national park.
“We have even gone further to initiate talks among the Toposa, Dodoth in Uganda and the Turkana in Kenya to stop raiding each other,†Okello said. He said the Toposa often allied with the Dodoth to attack the Turkana, while the latter also allied with the Jie in Kotido to raid the Dodoth.
ARMED Toposa pastoralists from southern Sudan have entered Kidepo national park with their families and hundreds of cattle.
Kaabong district internal security officer Geoffrey Okello said on Saturday the Toposa had occupied Lowapet sector, an ostrich breeding ground in the park.
“We have communicated to them through their leaders and advised them to withdraw from the area,†Okello said.
He, however, said the Toposa, whom he described as heavily armed, complained of lack of pasture on their side of the border.
The commanding officer of the UPDF 3rd division, Col. Gavas Mugyenyi, also said, “The report of their presence in the national park is known. However, we are yet to know their exact numbers and their capacity.â€
He said the government often consulted the leadership of the Toposa when they strayed into the national park.
The UPDF has on many occasion flushed out the Toposa from the national park over complaints that they poached wildlife.
Okello said the Uganda Wildlife authority (UWA) in consultation with the district had approached the southern Sudan district commissioner for Narus over the presence of the pastoralists in the national park.
“We have even gone further to initiate talks among the Toposa, Dodoth in Uganda and the Turkana in Kenya to stop raiding each other,†Okello said. He said the Toposa often allied with the Dodoth to attack the Turkana, while the latter also allied with the Jie in Kotido to raid the Dodoth.