Two family members died of gunshot wounds last Sunday after a misunderstanding ensued while they were drinking in Lokwamor village, Riwoto Payam of Kapoeta North County in Eastern Equatoria State. 

The director of police in the now-defunct Kapoeta State, Anthony Adil Juma, told Radio Tamazuj that the two were drinking a local potent gin called Siko when the quarrel started, leading to the killings.

“Someone fought with his wife at the place of drinking and he came out of the house with a gun in his hand. He shot the gun, killed a person, and started to run. As he ran, he was followed and also killed. All of them are civilians from the same family and they were all drunk. Right now there is nothing to be done, all are relatives," he said.

The police official added that the security situation in greater Kapoeta is stable as the security forces carry out patrols in and around the towns.

A catholic priest, Fr. Tim Galvins, of St Magdalene parish in Riwoto confirmed the tragedy saying the presence of guns in the hands of civilians threatens public security in the area.

“It is terrible; the problem is the proliferation of guns in the area. Sometimes people can get angry and they start using their guns recklessly. We have to respect one’s life instead of killing, they have to respect each other rather than being angry with each other at least to talk rather than quarrel and come to an agreement rather than resorting to violence,” Fr. Galvins advised.