The agreement is aimed at ensuring safety, peaceful coexistence, prevention of conflict, and promotion of economic development between the two countries

By The City Review

Uganda and South Sudan have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the prevalent conflicts in the borderlines between the two countries.

According to the Daily Monitor, leaders from the two countries reached a consensus after a two-day meeting at Kitgum Municipality, in Northern Uganda.

The agreement is aimed at ensuring safety, peaceful coexistence, prevention of conflict, and promotion of economic development between Uganda’s border districts of Lamwo, Kitgum, Amuru, Kaabong, and Karenga, and South Sudan’s Magwi, Budi, Ikwoto Counties.

The agreement, signed on Wednesday, follows various incidences of conflicts in the area, in the form of border disputes, civil wars, poaching, cattle rustling, smuggling and mistreatment of natives from each side of the divide.

Arkileo Mboya, the Commissioner of Budi County, who signed the pact on behalf of his team from South Sudan, said they discussed various issues relating to collaborations, partnerships, coordination and ensuring safe and peaceful movement of people among the areas.

“The core of all these is the social and economic empowerment of our people,” Mboya said.  

Meanwhile, William Kormakech, Lamwo resident District Commissioner added that the agreement seeks to foster cross-border trade in observance of the East African protocols.

According to the pact, District security Committees in the respective areas shall oversee the implementation of the MoU.

The two-day cross border meeting held in Kitgum Municipality was organized through the support of Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and the participating parties resolved to sensitize the neighbouring communities against poaching, smuggling and movement of illicit alcohol, which were pointed as the main cause of insecurity and conflict in the area.

“Poaching is one of the things bringing as chaos between South Sudan and Uganda, poaching is causing the possession of illegal guns,” said Geoffrey Filbert, Karenga resident District Commissioner.

“There is continuous movement of illegal firearms from South Sudan into Uganda. The movement and consumption of alcohol is also one of the reasons that has caused chaos among the youth.”

In July this year, at least 12 people were killed and seven others injured by Ugandan game rangers for allegedly poaching at the Kideopo Game Park on Sunday. The killings reportedly happened after a group of youth from Lorema in Budi County of Eastern Equatoria State unknowing went hunting in Kideopo, Uganda.

Budi Paramount Chief, Lino Atiol, said the suspected poachers who went hunting following hunger, did not know the borders with Uganda.

On the other hand, authorities in regions of South Sudan, especially Eastern and Central Equatoria states, have decried consistent invasions by the Ugandan authorities.

In August, local authorities in South Sudan’s Pogee, Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State raised alarm over the increased encroachment of their land and harassment by Ugandans.

They said the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) continued to displace host communities along the border and opening up settlement for their citizens.

A meeting between the two chiefs of defence forces of Uganda and South Sudan late last month (September) also discussed border issues and the mitigation measures.

The agreement, signed on Wednesday, follows various incidences of conflicts in the area, in the form of border disputes, civil wars, poaching, cattle rustling, smuggling and mistreatment of natives from each side of the divide.