Some of the displaced in South Sudan

The minister for Trade and Industry Amelia Kyambadde says that government is considering Airlifting Ugandans from South Sudan following the latest conflict that has left nearly 272 people killed, including Ugandans. Kyambadde says that government is consulting South Sudan to find a way of rescuing Ugandans from the renewed fighting in this country which has claimed hundreds of lives.

She however says that some traders in the country have been reported hiding so as they are not rescued from the conflict. She says that the traders who don’t  want to return from South Sudan claim that its within such situation where they can make much money. She also said that the Ugandan government should find ways of stopping such fighting in South Sudan since this young country is one of Uganda’s export market.

The fresh fighting between South Sudan’s biggest ethnic groups – the Dinka, led by President  Salva  Kiir, and the Nuer, under the first Vice-President Riek Machar  comes at a time when the East African Community  was contemplating to send its team of officials to assess the level of readiness of the conflict-torn country to integrate with EAC after its admission into East African Community on March 2rd  and signing of an Accession Protocol by President Salva Kiir in Dar es Salaam in April this year.

Furthermore Ugandan businessmen intending to travel to South Sudan have been urged by Police to wait until the current crisis is past. Addressing the media at the police headquarters in Naguru this afternoon, police spokesperson Fred Enanga revealed that the situation is very unstable and unsafe for Ugandans intending to travel.

Enanga also revealed that they have so far recovered two bodies Dr. Ben Kyandika a pharmacist and Batele Ceaser a UN driver. He says that they are patrolling the Nimule –Elegu border and not allowing vehicles to cross to South Sudan.

Uganda, Kenya and Sudan are some of the biggest trading partners with South Sudan.