Mr Kaps Hassan Fungaroo, the Member of Parliament for Obongi County in Moyo district has faulted South Sudan nationals over the mistreatment of Ugandans describing them as ungrateful people.
MP Fungaroo comments follow the arrest and detention of Sheik Shwadiq Thabith of Amuru County Mosque by South Sudanese military intelligence officials.
The cleric was released on Tuesday after intense pressure by a section of Muslim leaders in Acholi and leaders from the North.
Fungaroo says, “The ill treatment and killings of dozens of Ugandan traders who are living inside the new African nation is a clear sign that South Sudanese are not friendly people.”
He castigated the security forces saying they have forget the goodwill Ugandans showed them during the 20 year old civil war in their country which left millions dead and another million forced into displacement.
According to the legislator, “South Sudanese are not paying back the favor. Some of them were hosted and educated in Ugandan schools using the tax payers’ money.”
The Obongi lawmaker adds that it is inappropriate and too soon for South Sudanese to mistreat Ugandans in their own soil.
His counterpart, Mr Gilbert Olanya, for Kilak County in Amuru district also noted that majority of South Sudanese who studied in Ugandan schools without any problem should pay back the same kindness.
MP Olanya says South Sudanese should put at the back of their minds that despite gaining independence, they still need Ugandans to assist them build their young economy.
Ugandan citizens have been facing numerous violent attacks and indiscriminate killings which are mostly blamed on South Sudan security operatives.
In April 2013 while meeting Gen Pieny Deng Koul, the South Sudan Police Chief in Gulu town, Kale Kayihura raised a similar concern.
Kayihura later visited Juba in a bid to resolve the long standing issues such as unwarranted killings and arbitrary arrests of traders from Uganda.
Ugandans in South Sudan have complained of persistent harassment, extortion, arbitrary arrest and detention, murder and robbery by the security forces especially police and the military.
On his part, Gen Pieny Deng Koul admitted that there is laxity in security in South Sudan saying the country has just emerged from a war situation and arms are still in the hands of very many wrong people.
Koul said his government is doing its best to remove arms from the hands of its citizens and also provide security for foreigners living and doing business in South Sudan.
They also agreed to beef up patrols on Kampala-Juba highway, do community policing in South Sudan and establish a joint border security.
