South Sudanese refugees on spot over food and animal theft

LAMWO – Counter accusations have emerged between the South Sudanese refugees and host communities in Lamwo district over the theft of food and animals.

Host communities in the district allege that the refugees have made it a tendency to sneak into their farmlands to steal cassava, millet, maize, and animals.

On the other hand, the refugees also allege that the host communities leave their animals to move unattended to, destroying the little food they have planted on the small plots allocated by government.

More than 75,000, South Sudanese refugees are settled in Lamwo district in the three settlements of Palabek- Kal, Palabek- Ogiri, and Palabek- Gem.

They fled their home country following renewed fighting between Sudan People’s Liberation Army [SPLA] and several militias in Imatong State in  2017.

Jovan Okello, a resident of Palabek Ogiri Sub-county, alleged he has lost sim-sim and millet worth Shs 620,000, with three chicken and a goat to the refugees.

“Recently, my attempt to pursue what they [refugees] had stolen from me, some refugees ganged up against me. I had to engage their leader who intervened,’’ he said.

He said much as there have been several community engagements on the peaceful co-existence, both the host communities and refugees, some elements on either side have not heeded the advice.

“Many of us have fallen victims, yet it is only farming that is our source of livelihood,” he said.

On the other hand, Ekorim Garang, a refugee, claimed their hosts do not care about how the refugees labour to make ends meet. “They have failed to guard their animals against encroaching on our farmlands where have some food crops.”

He accused the host communities of stealing refugees’ birds. “Even us, we have lost birds in the hands of the host communities when they cross to their homesteads,” he said.

John Pasqual, Chairperson Refugees in Lamwo district said the dispute between them and the host communities is most likely to jeopardise the co-existence that leaders from both sides have laboured to bring on board.

“In a week, there are between two to three cases that are always brought to my attention, but we still embrace community dialogue in resolving the emerging conflicts,’’ he said.

He said they have reported some cases to the police to take further action on those who have continued to undermine the peace in the district.

Oswin Ogutti, the deputy resident district commissioner Lamwo said the theft of community food and animals is rampant in the district, saying there is a need to sensitise refugees and host communities on the matter.

“In some instances, we have involved the law to take its course to those who have still paid a deaf ear on the interventions put in place,’’ according to him.

In 2020, more than 600, South Sudanese refugees were relocated to Lamwo Refugee Settlement, following tribal clashes that saw hundreds of huts torched and two lives lost in Parolinya Refugee Settlement in Obongi district.

There fighting was sparked off due to counter accusation of food theft from farmlands within the allocated plots in the settlement.

UNHCR’s report indicates that Uganda hosts more than 1.5 million South Sudanese refugees.

https://thecooperator.news/new-south-sudanese-refugees-incite-violence-in-lamwo-refugee-settlement/

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