(KAJO-KEJI COUNTY) – A village chief from Kajo-Keji County who spent nearly ten months in detention in Uganda has been released and formally handed back to South Sudanese authorities.
Chief Mawa Joseph of Tululu Village in Ajio Boma was received on Thursday during a cross-border handover ceremony at the Afoji checkpoint, attended by officials from Kajo-Keji County and Uganda’s Moyo and Yumbe districts.
Chief Mawa was arrested by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, UPDF, on 19 December 2025 amid tensions and disputes along the Kajo-Keji-Uganda border. His detention had raised concerns among local communities and prompted repeated calls from traditional leaders and county authorities for a diplomatic solution.
Speaking during the handover, Acting Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County Ryembe Benjamin welcomed the chief’s release, describing it as a victory for dialogue and cooperation between neighbouring administrations.
Benjamin said the return of Chief Mawa Joseph demonstrates the importance of peaceful engagement and stressed that traditional leaders should not become victims of territorial disputes.
Officials from Kajo-Keji, Moyo and Yumbe also signed a joint commitment to strengthen dialogue, reactivate local border committees, prevent unlawful civilian arrests and promote peaceful coexistence among communities living along the frontier.
Authorities believe the chief’s release will help ease tensions in disputed border areas and restore confidence among residents returning to farming and other livelihood activities.
In a related development, Kajo-Keji County authorities handed over LC1 Chairperson Siriga Ameyi Yahiya, who had been detained at Mere Police Headquarters following the border disputes.
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