Born in Southern Sudan, he was a citizen of Central Equatoria State (CES), of Kuku ethnicity. His early primary school was in Kajo Kaji, followed by junior school in Torit and he completed high school in Rumbek in 1976. He went on to join the University of Juba. He earned a degree in natural resources Sciences and attended further Wildlife studies in Nairobi, Kenya.
He was married, with three children. Currently his
wife is living in a refugee camp in Uganda at the time of arrest.
Yona was a very sociable person, easygoing and taking
extra care with people he did not know. His personality is very calm and
introverted.
He was very professional individual; however, he gets
angry very fast. He followed Southern Sudan politics very well. He was very
close and trusted friend of Dr. Josephson Mogga,M.D. and shared his fears about
all them being accused by the Sudanese Army leadership as SPLA collaborators.
In addition to this, there was growing mistrust between Southern Sudanese
Officers serving in Juba and that resulted in toxic relations with the Sudanese
Army.
On the night of July 5th, 1992, their headquarters received
heavy shelling by tanks stationed at Juba Airport, some of their Officers were
already killed by the Khartoum regime soldiers and among them was a Wildlife
Officer who was manager of late Hon. Gajuk Wurnyang Lupaya, former minister of
health in Juba.
Hero Robert anticipated an attack of the Wildlife
forces or arrest. On the night of July 6th, 1992, he tried to escape Juba via
Jebel Kujur west of Juba, but unfortunately, he fell into the hands of
government soldiers at a post behind Jebel Kujur. With him was Hillary Duku,
former Director General in ministry of finance who escaped with him was lucky
to dodge arrest and disappeared in the bush. Reliable reports stated that Capt.
Robert was summarily brutally killed after severe tortures by Col. Samshadin.
On the same evening of his arrest his body was dumped across the River Nile
towards Gumbo.
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