More Ugandans handed over to UNICEF

Thirty seven more Ugandans, abducted by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army LRA), have been handed over to the United Nations Children‘s Fund (UNICEF) in Khartoum. Last week 16 people were handed over, bringing the total number of released captives so far to 53. Nance Webber, the UNICEF information officer in Sudan, confirmed the release to IRIN on Monday. “Yes we now have a total of 53 persons, 43 kids and 10 adults, all Ugandans. Five are hospitalised due to wounds and malnutrition,” she said. Last week Uganda handed over 72 Sudanese prisoners of war. The exchange of captives follows last year‘s agreement between the presidents of Uganda and Sudan. According to UNICEF, the freed captives will be repatriated after a screening exercise being carried out by UNHCR. The semi-official ‘New Vision’ quoted Ugandan government officials as saying the freed captives were expected home this week. The Sudanese government is facilitating the release of Ugandan captives held by the LRA.