The authorities in South Sudan are yet to release six Ugandan nationals arrested on allegations of illegal tree cutting.
The six are Richard Otto, Gaetano John Bosco Ouma, Michael Onono, Richard Otto and Geoffrey Kilama, all male adults, and residents of Okidi Parish in Attiak Sub County Amuru district.
Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner said the six were arrested by the South Sudan army on Tuesday while reportedly cutting trees from a forest in Magwi County.
Oceng who met with the security team in South Sudan on Thursday last week over the arrest said on Sunday that the six are still being held by the army in Magwi as negotiations are underway for their release.
He disclosed that he met with the Commissioner for Magwi County, David Otto and other delegations from Nimule in Magwi County in the Eastern Equatoria and they have agreed to release the six on a yet undisclosed date.
The RDC revealed that a vehicle lorry registration number UBE 379G that was reportedly in use by the Ugandans to ferry timber was also impounded.