Nuer community dismiss claims Uganda police blocked commemorating Juba massacres
December 20, 2015 (KAMPALA) – The leader of Nuer community in Kampala has dismissed alleging that Ugandan police blocked people from commemorating the 15 December 2013 massacres in the South Sudanese capital, Juba.
Beliu said the ceremony commemorating the Juba massacres were successfully held in Kampala and that police did not block it as earlier alleged by some people.
“We [the] Nuer communities in Uganda have no links with South Sudan embassy in Uganda. It is not true that we have connections with an embassy. It has nothing to with community activities. We did the commemoration in consultation with SPLM/SPLA-IO office in Uganda,” he said.
According to Nuer community leader, a member of the armed opposition official was the chief guest at the occasion held in the Ugandan capital.
“In fact the chief guest was Gen. Makuach Teny who and other dignitaries from the SPLM/SPLA IO attended the function and mourned with over 700 people who attended the function,” said the Nuer community leader.
“Those claims were unfounded and baseless, desperate and propaganda by a group who failed in the elections [held] in August,” he added.
Teny, in a separate interview, also dismissed claims that Uganda police blocked the commemoration event, saying those behind the propaganda were opposed to the strong relations between Uganda and the SPLM-IO.
“There is a saying first love is better than the love at last, so we need to be careful about this country, it belong to all of us. Whether you like it or not, we must unite and find a lasting solution to end this conflict,” said Teny.
(ST).