Six Ugandans detained in South Sudan for illegal logging

South Sudan army picked up the Ugandans while cutting trees in a forest in Magwi county

Six Ugandan nationals are in the custody of South Sudanese authorities for illegal logging. They are Richard Otto, Gaetano John, Bosco Ouma, Michael Onono, Richard Otto and Geoffrey Kilama, all residents of Okidi Parish in Attiak sub county, Amuru district.

Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner says that the South Sudan army picked up the six while cutting trees in a forest in Magwi county. Oceng who met security officials in South Sudan on Thursday last week, says the six are in the custody of the army in Magwi as negotiations are ongoing for their release.

The RDC told URN on Sunday that he met with the Commissioner for Magwi County, David Otto and other delegates from Nimule in Magwi County in the Eastern Equatorial and they agreed to release the six on undisclosed date.

He says the South Sudanese also impounded a lorry registration number UBE 379G, and other rudimentary tools that were reportedly being used by the Ugandan nationals. Earlier, the Amuru district LC V chairperson Michael Lakony said reports were circulating that the South Sudanese army had arrested the Ugandans on allegations of being rebels.