Magwi County stops Uganda’s road constructors at Pogee

JUBA – Authorities in Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State say they have stopped Uganda’s road constructors from encroaching into its territory in Pogee Boma of Pajok Payam.

This comes after Lamwo District in Uganda launched a new road construction project from Ngomoromo parish leading to Pajok via Pogee without the knowledge of the local authorities in Magwi County.

The local authorities in Magwi described it as “illegal encroachment” into South Sudanese territory.

In an interview with City Review, Otto David Remson, Magwi County Commissioner said the case was reported to his office by the local leaders as he was not aware of any road construction activities at the borders by Ugandans.

“This information came to us last week and I went and stopped the construction because they did not consult the local government and the state government. They have a problem of encroachment, it was too much into our territory,” Otto said.

“We have all agreed with the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Lamwo District of Uganda and the work has now been stopped because at our level we cannot talk about the border, it needs the central government,” he added.

He stressed that the local government can only talk about the relationship and trade between the two neighboring countries.

“If we talk about the development the government should be in a position to know which development is coming in Magwi County. Even I cannot go to Uganda to start development without the knowledge of the local government,” he stressed.

Local authorities in Lokung Sub County and the Resident District Commissioner of Lamwo District in northern Uganda could be reached for comment.

In August 2015, over 100 households in Pogee fled from their homes in fear after Ugandan forces entered the area following a dispute between the two neighboring countries.

The incident resulted in the signing of the Memorandum of Understating between South Sudan and Uganda to ease border tension and allow the demarcation of the disputed approximately 470 kilometers-long boundary, but since then little progress has been made.

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