Olweny a South Sudan trader attending to Lamwo district officials and partners at Ngomoromo border point. Photo by Arnest Tumwesige
By Arnest Tumwesige
Lamwo: Ugandan and South Sudanese locals are forging trade across the contentious Ngomoromo-Logee borderline. The border separates Uganda’s Lamwo district from South Sudan’s Eastern Equatorial State.
The four kilometres stretch of land that has since 2015 had both South Sudanese and Ugandan Locals claim ownership resulting into violent attacks is now a proud home to cross-border trade.
This comes only days after Ugandan security forces on June 26th 2024 apprehended and detained three South Sudanese soldiers they accuse of entering Uganda illegally with fire arms, extorting and harassing local Ugandan farmers, according to Lamwo Resident District Commissioner Geoffrey Oceng Osborn.
South Sudan’s radio Tamazuj identifies the commander that assigned the three soldiers on duty as Major John Gatluak, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces’ acting commander at Nyacigak Nyaculuk military Training Centre in Owinykibul.
Gatluak insists the soldiers were arrested while patrolling common border.
Back in the community, Joseph Charles Oyet, the chief of Owinykibul Payam accused UPDF to radio Tamazuj of threatening civilians and grabbing farm land from South Sudanese.
Ngomoromo border town located in Lokung sub county Lamwo district Northern Uganda is 4kms away from Pogee, another township in Magwir county of Eastern Equatorial State, South Sudan.
According to Ugandan security sources, this land is considered as no-man’s land. “It however attracts farmers from both sides and armed forces from South Sudan sometimes allegedly demand payments from Ugandan locals,” Oceng explained.
The attacks involving both armed forces from the two countries and the local people through cattle raids and land disputes have negatively impacted on peace.
Where trade comes in
Through cross-border trade that started last week at the border point, it is highly anticipated that the interaction between the two communities will create strong bond and a pillar for peace.
38 year old Charles Olweny Iriko, a trader from Pogee commended Lamwo district and Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a non-governmental organisation operating in Lamwo district for initiating cross-border trade.
Olweny observed that bringing the different communities together is well received with hope that it will foster peaceful co-existence.
Olweny said conflicts are common during cultivation season as both Ugandans and South Sudanese claim the same stretch of land after cultivating it.
Oceng said cross-border trade promotion is Uganda government’s effort to harmonise co-existence among the local border residents.
The RDC explained that creating cross-border trade will soon attract more traders into Uganda thus redeeming them from travelling to Malaba or Elegu border points, 200 kms away.
He pointed out that for the last two years, road block attacks have drastically reduced but garden attacks are still regularly reported.
Oceng said there is an on-going diplomatic engagement between the two countries to find ways of resolving the conflict.
Jennifer Oyuru, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of extension services from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) said the initiative offers a platform for farmers to venture into farming as a business.
During the engagement, the locals in Ngomoromo challenged Lamwo district to ensure that the market constructed by the central government at the border is re-opened.
The market was closed when South Sudan nationals who flocked into Uganda started using it as shelter before they were moved to Palabek refugee settlement camp.
Patrick Muhenda Agaba, the Lamwo district Marketing and Production Officer promised to ensure that the trade forum is sustained and all markets at the border are re-opened to facilitate trade.
“In Apiriti we have a livestock market, in Ngomoromo, we shall deal mostly in oil seeds crops like soya bean, sim-sim and sunflower. Then we have Owinykibul, and Walego markets,” he explained.
As part of sustainability, district leaders acknowledged the need to incorporate the initiative into the financial year work plan with a probability of being held once or twice a year.
Project focus
Joyce Ataro, the Project Manager for LWF based in Lamwo said over 10 groups from the settlement camp took part in the trade show and about 40 groups were from the host community.
“As you know, without peace, it is hard to engage in economic development. As LWF we want people living in Uganda to co-exist with their colleagues in South Sudan so that we have development in both countries,” she added.
The trade expo was held under the theme: “Exploring cross border opportunities for trade and sustainable livelihoods between Uganda and South Sudan”.
It was supported by LWF and Community Development Services (CDSS) with funding from European Union through United Nations Project of Services (UNPOS), Lives in Dignity (LiD) grant facility under a 2.5 year Cross Border Opportunity for Migration, Peace and Self-sustenance (COMPASS) project.