The Territorial Police in Aswa have reinforced security at the Palabek refugee settlement camp in Lamwo district following communal violence between the two refugee communities of the Dinka and Nuer tribes that left one person dead.
SCP Fred Enanga, the Uganda Police Spokesperson, said while addressing the media on April 2, 2024, at police headquarters in Naguru, that the conflict between Dinka and Nuer tribes began when two refugee pupils of South Sudan origin fought at Kanaan Primary School, located in Paluda, a refugee settlement camp.
According to Enanga, one of the Primary Four pupils in question, identified as Galamayi of the Ben Tiu clan, was beaten by his colleague, identified as Nyantien Katz, a 13-year-old female from the Nuer Pagak, for standing on a desk in the classroom.
He added that when the information about the fight spread to their respective communities, clan members mobilized themselves with machetes and other sharp implements to launch an attack on each other.
“Clan members of the Benchou clan went and attacked members of the Nuer with pangas, and by the time police responded, they rescued two people, but unfortunately one died due to the injuries sustained,’’ Enanga noted.
He identified the two victims as Kyle, who succumbed to injuries after being stabbed, and Kong Rieke, aged 19.
Enanga highlighted that, following the tension between the Dinkers and the Nuer in Palabek camp, the police have highly deployed personnel to carry out pre-emptive foot and motorized patrols under the guidance of officials from the Office of the Prime Minister.
He further stated that a total of 62 refugees, who are majority youth, were arrested for causing violence. He therefore called upon the refugees, especially the Dinka and Neur, who are always in conflict, to observe the rule of law in Uganda.
