Uganda’s military and over 250 trucks were on Wednesday still held up at Bibya trading centre in Amuru District, about 5 kms from the Uganda-South Sudan border point awaiting permission from South Sudan authorities to enter the country.
Uganda’s military are on a rescue mission to South Sudan to bring back home Uganda’s caught up by fighting in South Sudan.
Among the military and police officers who were by yesterday still held at Elegu trading centre were Assistant Inspector General of the Police, Assuman Mugenyi, Stephen Odongkara the traffic Police officer in charge of highways and Brig -Kayanja-Muhanga the UPDF 4th division commander in Gulu.
Ugandan citizens, mostly traders are held up in the South Sudan capital Juba, Nimule and other towns in South Sudan.
At a press briefing at Elegu, the 4th Division army Spokesman Lt Hassan Kato said: ‘‘we are still held up here [at Elegu] but we preparing to bring back our brothers and sisters in Southern Sudan. The roads are open but they are unsafe,” Lt Kato explained.
Henry Okello Oryem, the State Ministry for Foreign Affairs released a hotline for people trapped in South Sudan. Oryem said the hotline; +211 9283 020 44, would help citizens in South Sudan to seek consular support from the Ugandan embassy in Juba. The number is accessible by voice calls, text messages or WhatsApp.
