The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have blocked repeated attempts by South Sudanese soldiers to extend their borderlines 9 kilometers into Uganda.

Col. Deo Akiiki, the Deputy UPDF Spokesperson, confirmed the development and said the army recently blocked the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) from Andejo barracks under the command of Capt Galwak Gabriel, who was erecting a military detachment at Murule Centre Trading, Tire village, Lui Parish, Kerwa Sub County in Yumbe district, Uganda.

“The elements are making mistakes under their own command, and they are discouraged from such acts that antagonize harmonious existence,” Col. Akiiki said.

Col. Akiiki confirmed that UPDF soldiers also uninstalled the South Sudan flag that had been hoisted about 9 kilometers (Kms) inside Uganda by the soldiers. He said UPDF was compelled to conduct immediate deployment to reinforce the unit in this area as a deterrent measure against such acts of provocation.

On February 20th, a suspected group of eight South Sudanese soldiers dressed in civilian clothes reportedly robbed four goats from one Siriba Amidu, 21, a resident of Alema Village, Goboro Parish, Kochi Sub County in Yumbe District.

According to UPDF, the group was armed with three AK-47 rifles and five pangas, and they went back towards the SSPDF barracks at Gobiri, Gwere West Parish, Lefori Sub County, Moyo District.

“It is suspected that these were elements of the SSPDF that have always disturbed Ugandans along the border. UPDF has contacted SSPDF at Kajokeji to follow up on these elements,” Col. Akiiki said.

On May 7, 2023, the South Sudanese attacked Gwere North Parish in Lefori Sub County, Moyo District, about 8 kilometres inside Uganda, where they burnt houses, destroyed properties, and illegally evicted Ugandans from their own land, leaving 3,018 people displaced.

On June 16, 2023, 75 SSPDF soldiers were deployed in the Gobiri trading centre in Linyamiro Village, Gwere North Parish, Lefori Sub County, only 1.5 km from a UPDF detachment and 5 km from the border with South Sudan.

According to UPDF, SSPDF soldiers in Gobiri continue uprooting crops of displaced Ugandans from Linyamiro, Embge, Itiam, and Kukus, especially those who participated in displacing Ugandans from Linyamiro, Embge, and Itia, who have been apportioned land and are cultivating and grazing animals in the said villages.

It has also been established that Linyamiro, Embge and Itia remain completely unoccupied by Ugandans, and dialogue between UPDF and SSPDF has completely failed.

A military source also confirmed that the South Sudan flag still remains raised at the Gobiri Trading Centre, and the SSPDF has camped there with weapons like RPGs, LMGs, and SMGs.

According to the source, on July 26, 2023, SSPDF soldiers at Andejo Baracks crossed 6 kilometres into Uganda at Centre Murule in Tire Village, Lui Parish, Kerwa Sub County, Yumbe District, and established a Detach. The UPDF from the 69th Battalion advised them to stop establishing Detach at Center Murule.

The source noted that on August 30, 2023, a group of over 23 South Sudanese armed with machetes, knives, hoes, bows and arrows, axes, etc. crossed 3 km into Uganda at Fitinambaya Village, Munduchaku Parish, Kochi Sub County, Yumbe District to claim and clear land for cultivation.

The group was under the command of Chief Tumiyang Eresto of Boriboma in Kajokeji County, who was also a refugee at Palorinya Settlement, Obongi District.

The affected landowners in Fitinambaya village are; Saidi Swalik, LC1, Chairman of the village; Ajaga Haruna, former District Councillor Romogi, Alemiga Haruna, District Councillor Lori Sub County, Kawawa Rashid, LC3, Chairman Lori Sub County and one Ijosiga, a farmer.

In 2019, the governments of South Sudan and Uganda formed a joint technical border committee of 26 members to resolve border tensions between the neighboring countries by demarcating borders. The joint committee, comprised of 13 members from South Sudan and Uganda, was tasked with sensitizing the people living along the border and also acquiring the necessary equipment for demarcation, including colonial maps. They were to get all necessary equipment, including the map of 1956, when Sudan was given its independence, and Uganda was also to acquire their maps and other gadgets that were also to be used as GPS, along with the rest of the recommended equipment.