Two Ugandan nationals have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the murder of a South Sudanese lawmaker in Uganda’s northwestern town of Yumbe last week, a South Sudanese diplomat said on Thursday.

Jacob Kuwinsuk Gale, MP for Yei River State, was shot and killed by gunmen in northern Uganda. The legislator left Yei with other people to make consultations as part of the national dialogue for South Sudanese refugees in Uganda.

Mawien Makol Ariik, Spokesman of South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Radio Tamazuj that two Ugandan men had been arrested over the killing of MP Gale. He pointed out that they have regular official contact with the government of Uganda over the issue.

He indicated that the two suspects are being investigated in connection with the murder of MP Gale.  However, he declined to disclose the identity of the two arrested suspects, saying they are still following legal procedures with the government of Uganda. “I don’t want to talk in details right now, because the case is still in the early stages, so no details now,” he said.

Ugandan officials could not immediately be reached for comment.