The head of the National Emergency Coordinating Center in the Office of the Prime Minister, Major Gen Julius Oketa has said pastoralists from South Sudan are likely to enter Uganda with 1.5 million cattle due to increasing insecurity in their country.
Addressing residents of Pabbo at Pabbo Primary School in Amuru district during an end-of –year peace prayer on Thursday, Oketa said the pastoralists are stuck in areas around Owiny-Kibul near the South Sudan-Uganda border town of Nimule.
Oketa said worsening security in South Sudan is expected to drive the pastorists into northern Uganda districts like Amuru and Lamwo. The entry of such a large number of animals in Uganda, he said, would cause numerous challenges. He, however, told the gathering, without specifying, that the Ugandan government is doing all it can to prevent the entry of the animals into the country.
Gen Oketa who is also an army representative in parliament said Uganda is having a keen interest in the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan.
The army General added that Uganda is considering deploying a small contingent of its forces along the borders in a bid to ensure that the local population along the shared borderline are protected.
In August 2015, South Sudanese pastoralists with over 3,000 herds of cattle entered Okidi North village in Atiak Sub County of Amuru district. John Bosco Ochan, LC III Chairperson said the pastoralists were searching for pasture for their animals. Local farmers accused the South Sudanese of intimidation and destruction of their crops.
Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak County Member of Parliament (MP) says South Sudanese entry into Uganda with their animals has turned into a menace. Olanya explained that on a number of occasions local farmers have had to fight with the South Sudanese for pasture and water for their animals. He promised to raise the matter on the floor of parliament.
Uganda currently hosts over 500,000 refugees from South Sudan, most came in after the war broke out two years ago in the young nation.
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Idiots that is wealth that could make Northern Uganda the center for cattle trade.These Sudanese should be welcomed and accommodated.Land could be sett aside for hire for the cattles.There would be cheep meat and milk and you want to stop all that?Let them in for Gods sake