Feature: Ugandans flee South Sudan amid insecurity, economic hardship

Ugandans are fleeing the South Sudan's Juba in droves because of economic hardship amid fears of renewed fighting as Kampala started evacuating them given recent fighting.

More than 5,000 Ugandans have been relocated toward the Uganda-South Sudan border town of Elegu by the Ugandan army trucks.

Those waiting at Gumbo market in Juba to be transported to Uganda on Tuesday told Xinhua on Sunday that they feared for their security and economic hardship caused by the more than two years of civil conflict in the youngest nation.

Afan Nagodi, a business trader based at Malakia, told Xinhua that a number of Ugandans have been killed in the recent conflict in July that ended after President Salva Kiir and former rebel leader and First Vice President Riek Machar declared ceasefire.

"Some of us have been targeted by some South Sudanese armed groups who have robbed us of our merchandise. It's the reason our government ordered us to come here. So that we return home safely," Nagodi said.

Some of the Ugandans said they have given up on ever returning for business in South Sudan given the unending political turmoil in the oil-rich impoverished country.

South Sudan imports nearly everything from food, construction materials and fuel from East Africa and its economy is foreign owned with barely few South Sudanese engaged in business ownership and trade.

Nagodi added that he has found it hard to remit money home to feed his family because of economic turmoil in the war-torn country after it devalued its South Sudan pound by 84 percent in 2015.

South Sudan's only oil-revenue source has declined owing to halting of oil production from 350,000 barrels a day to less than 160,000 barrels after the outbreak of December 2013 conflict.

"The traders who have been bringing food to us have been killed in ambushes by armed groups since fighting broke out in July. I will return to South Sudan only after my government has advised so," Nagodi assured.

George Muyomba, a herbalist, said he was afraid of staying in Juba with his family, he worried that fresh fighting may break out between former rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) and the South Sudan army (SPLA).

"We don't know the security situation in Juba because everybody tells his own views on the situation. Also back home anyone can succeed if he or she works hard due to stable security," he said.

"We need to go back to our country and start life afresh than just remaining here to suffer at the hands of lawless groups," Nagodi added.

Lekuru Zaitun, a mother carrying her baby told Xinhua that the cost of living amid fighting has forced her to return home.

"There is high food prices and insecurity here. I have decided to return with my baby so that he can be able to feed well and live in a secured place," she said.

However, Annet Driwaru, a trader, said she will not be leaving Juba because there is still business potential in South Sudan.

She hoped that the situation will improve with time and enable her to recover her money from various clients she supplied with food.

Meanwhile, its not only foreigners fleeing the country but even South Sudanese have fled in big numbers and they are registered as refugees on arrival at Elegu town located about 125 km from Juba.

Joseph Mathiak, a South Sudanese, said he and his family were fleeing for safety due to fears of renewed outbreak of fighting.

He told Xinhua that his wife and children felt increasingly unsafe to stay in the country and they were heading to the refugee reception on the Ugandan side.

United Nations refugee agency UNHCR noted earlier on Friday that the overall planning figure had risen from 867,239 to 973,000.

UNHCR added that in the first four months of this year, countries like Sudan and Uganda received between 70 and 90 percent of their planned 2016 population.

They lauded these countries for keeping their borders open, noting that the number of countries hosting South Sudanese refugees has expanded to include the Central African Republic (10,454 refugees) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (11,966), in addition to Ethiopia (285,657), Kenya (103,104), Sudan (231,638) and Uganda (224,420). Endit