A protest by bus operators on the Uganda-South Sudan border on
Friday disrupted activities and caused a huge snarl-up at the
Nimule-Elegu crossing point.
The bus
operators, most of who operate transboundary passenger services, said
money changers on Friday morning beat up and injured Trinity Bus Service
driver Gabulyeri Ngabirano.
Injured Trinity Bus Service driver Gabulyeri Ngabirano (second left) at
the Nimule-Elegu crossing point on the Uganda-South Sudan border. Bus
operators on March 6, 2020 staged protests at the border after a driver
was beaten up and injured by money changers. PHOTO | GARANG A. MALAK |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
“This
incident happened this morning when all buses where cleared by the two
borders at 8.30am before setting off for Juba,” Mr Odocke Richard, the
conductor of the Trinity Bus, said.
“One
of our Trinity passengers had a quarrel with a money changer inside the
bus. When the driver intervened and stopped them from fighting, the two
money changers [who were in the bus] turned to the driver and beat him
up.”
Travellers and traders at the Nimule-Elegu crossing point on the
Uganda-South Sudan border. Bus operators on March 6, 2020 staged
protests at the border after a driver was beaten up and injured by money
changers. PHOTO | GARANG A. MALAK | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The operators staged protests and demanded that the injured driver receive medical attention.
They also urged authorities to ensure their safety at the border.
Mr
Richard Balenzi, the Uganda Police Officer In-Charge at Elegu Field
Office, said officials from both sides of the border had a meeting with
bus drivers to quell the protest and give way to uninterrupted border
crossing.
“If this crossing remains
closed for long, it will cause an economic crisis because it’s not just
buses that use it. There are many other people doing business here,” he
said.
Travellers at the Nimule-Elegu crossing point on the Uganda-South Sudan
border. Bus operators on March 6, 2020 staged protests at the border
after a driver was beaten up and injured by money changers. PHOTO |
GARANG A. MALAK | NATION MEDIA GROUP
South Sudan gets a lot of its food supplies from Uganda and a prolonged disruption at the border would affect supply in Juba.
“What
we are saying is that we handle the issue amicably and open the
borders. This incident will be handled by authorities as we continue to
meet,” Mr Balenzi said.
Mr Yor
Mawien, the South Sudan Immigration Officer at Nimule border, said the
two South Sudanese suspects had been arrested. They will be prosecuted
if investigations find them culpable, he added.
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