Eco bus resumes operations on Juba-Nimule road after getting security guarantees
Magdoline Joseph | December 6, 2016 | 4:33 pm Eco Bus stops on Nimule-Juba highway in 2015 Photo: Daniel Danis The transport company, Eco Bus says it’s resuming its operations from Juba to Kampala tomorrow after receiving security assurance from the organized forces patrolling the Nimule highway. The company says it resolved to resume one trip a day after verifying the presence of security patrols along the highway. In October, Eco Bus said it lost more 100,000 US Dollars when one of its buses was burnt by gunmen along the Juba-Nimule highway.Other buses and trucks were also shot at and burned in separate incidences. The company suspended its operation after gunmen shot a passenger, looted properties of the travelers and burnt one of its buses.Eco Bus Manager, Kiir Atem says their confidence has been boosted after conducting several meetings with security organs. “The security situation is fine because we got assurance from the authorities, and we also checked the road,” Atem said.The Nimule-Juba highway has been experiencing insecurity by armed assailants.It is the only tarmacked highway connecting South Sudan to East Africa. Atem said highway security patrols have pledged safety for travelers.“So when we start our journey the security personnel will be on the road to secure it for all travelers. These are some of the issues that we discussed,” Atem added. The last major attack on travelers on the highway was in October, when Eco bus and a fuel tanker were burnt, while buses belonging to Friendship and Gateway Companies were shot at by armed men. Traders have blamed the skyrocketing prices in the country to their inability to import goods due to security uncertainties. Two months ago, a meeting between the South Sudan Police Inspector General, General Makur Marol Aduot and his Ugandan counterpart, General Kale Kayihura agreed to form a joint police force to restore security along the Juba Nimule road, and along the Juba- Oraba road, which goes through Yei.Joint Patrols The meeting also discussed the establishment of a task force to respond to critical security challenges and to pursue criminal gangs along the road. -- To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/southsudankob View this message at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/southsudankob/topic-id/message-id For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oot5WUB-cDwDWUQp0TpCPTy1xxc0Zx8K0eOMw3ppqdN2g%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
