Uganda, S. Sudan to fight cattle theft

Raid. Move follows rustling of 44 head of cattle in Lamwo District by armed South Sudanese.

LAMWO. The Ugandan and South Sudan governments have agreed to jointly fight cattle rustling by armed South Sudanese, who periodically raid Lamwo District.The pact follows last month’s incident in which South Sudanese cattle rustlers invaded the sub- counties of Agoro and Madi-Opei and looted 44 head of cattle separately on June 19 and June 20.

The cattle were recovered by Sudan Peoples Liberation Army soldiers who intercepted the rustlers. The cattle were handed over to Lamwo District officials.Last Thursday, local leaders and security officials from the two states held a joint border security meeting in Lamwo Town Council to address cattle rustling and harassment of Ugandan traders travelling to South Sudan.The meeting also discussed an invasion of Ngomoromo village in Lukung Sub-county, Lamwo District by armed South Sudanese militia in August last year. Hundreds of residents were displaced.

Capt Salvatore Abdullah Lorisamoi, the high commissioner for Imatong State, said South Sudan government condemns cattle rustling within its territory and in neighbouring states. He said they have instituted a security mechanism to ensure that no cattle is stolen from Uganda and taken to South Sudan.“We have collaborated with Ugandan government and we shall continue working with them closely to ensure that we bust the racket of the cattle rustlers. We shall hand over stolen cattle once we recover them from the rustlers,” Mr Lorisamoi said.The official said South Sudan security personnel would guard Ugandan traders travelling to Imatong State to protect them from being attacked by armed thugs.

Lamwo Resident District Commissioner Jonathan Rutabingwa commended the South Sudan officials’ commitment to fighting cattle theft and lawlessness across the border.He said a team from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit would work jointly with South Sudan security personnel to combat rustling.Madi-Opei Sub-county chairperson Charles Obong Okwera called upon the South Sudanese officials to be committed to the resolution made. He said many times joint border meetings have been held but the implementation of resolutions has not been good.

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