The over a decade long conflict between Yumbe district and Kajokeji in South Sudan is expected to end following resolutions from a fourdays meeting concluded over the weekend.
The meeting held at hotel Le Confidentiel in Arua district attracted over 100 delegates from both Uganda and South Sudan, that endorsed 20 key resolutions to end the ongoing conflict between the two communities of Aringa and Kuku.
According to the leaders, the conflict has resulted into loss of many lives through killings, abductions, raids of animals and looting of property, displacement of local communities and strained relations between the two Countries.
Among the key resolutions adopted for implementation include: re-demarcating the contested 6 12 kilometers border stretch between Yumbe and Kajokeji, organizing cultural and sports gala between the Kuku and the Aringa people to forge unity, releasing political detainees in the hands of the armies of Uganda and South Sudan, regular joint intelligence operations and improving on communication to report any incident in time among others.
Gertrude Obedi, the Commissioner in charge of RDCs in West Nile and the co-chair of the Ugandan community said this time round the resolutions will not remain on paper since innocent communities continue to suffer the brunt of armed personnel along the border.
Sheik Swaib Bamuze the district Khadi Yumbe the people of Aringa and Kajokeji need peace at all cost and called for total respect to the resolutions and their speedy expedition so as to usher a lasting peace to the suffering communities.
Hudah Oleru Abason the State Minister for defence and veteran affairs reemphasized Uganda government’s commitment to ensuring that the resolutions are implemented so as to bring lasting peace in the two areas.
Brigadier Ronnie Balya, the Ambassador General and Plenipotentiary of Uganda to South Sudan noted that the suffering the two communities of Kajo Keji and Aringa is a result of colonial policy of creating borders between one community, which should be put to an end.
Meanwhile Aggrey Tisa Satuni, the Chairman Kajokeji Community Organization said Yumbe and Kajokeji should have soft border and any criminal found causing disturbance to the locals should be punished accordingly.
Emmanuel Anthony Wani Andee Adi the Central Equatorial Governor called for fast-tracking of peace between Uganda and South Sudan by implementating the resolutions without delays.Uganda border with South Sudan in Yumbe and Kajokeji has for long experienced armed conflicts, which has persisted despite several attempts by the two countries to resolve. URN
I think this issue can only be resolved by reversing the mind set of the Aringa tribe of Yumbe and the madi of Moyo vis a vis the the Kuku of kajokeji
1.The kuku people whose ancestral land is Geographicaly located in uganda who are a minority any way should be assured of protection and minority rights to live in uganda. by so doing there could be no desire/agitation to locate their land to kajokeji in south Sudan where the majority of them belong.
2.The Aringa of Yumbe and the Madi of Moyo should stop referring to the kuku tribe whose ancestral lands are in the Districts of Yumbe and Moyo as South Sudanese. If that RHETORIC OF discrimination continues then I’m afraid peace may not previl among these border tribes.