Bodies of Five Soldiers Killed Near Uganda Border Returned to Kajo Keji

(KAJO-KEJI) – The bodies of five South Sudanese security personnel killed in a cross border attack have been formally received by Kajo-Keji County authorities.

The remains were brought to Mundari Civil Hospital on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, where County Commissioner and Chair of the County Security Committee, Hon. Wani Jackson Mule, led a solemn reception attended by security officials, religious leaders and community members.

The five had been part of a joint unit stationed in Nyainga-Muda village, Bori Boma, Kangapo Two Payam, when they were attacked by heavily armed forces from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) on Monday, 28 July.

Commissioner Mule called on the public to remain peaceful, assuring residents that the governments of South Sudan and Uganda are addressing the incident through diplomatic channels.

“We must honour the dead not through anger, but through unity,” he said during the handover ceremony.

Brigadier General Henry Buri, the Army Area Commander for Kajo-Keji County, confirmed that the soldiers came under attack by Ugandan troops who reportedly used tanks and artillery. He said the South Sudanese team, composed of 19 personnel, had been deployed to protect civilians in an area often threatened by armed holdout groups.

The five victims were identified by County Police Inspector Colonel Nathaniel Mawa as two members of the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF), two prison officers, and one police officer. Their names were withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The recovery and dignified handling of the remains were overseen by Reverend Dr James Lule Kenyi of the Episcopal Diocese of Kajo-Keji, working in collaboration with the First Baptist Church and the South Sudan Red Cross. Speaking at the hospital, Rev Kenyi described the event as a tragic loss for the nation.

“These were citizens who gave their lives in service to South Sudan. We remember them with honour and gratitude,” he said.

Authorities say the remains will be transported to the respective home areas of the fallen officers for final burial rites. In the meantime, national and county level officials have pledged support for the families.

An assessment team led by the County Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), along with humanitarian partners, has been sent to the area where the attack took place. Their task is to evaluate the impact of the incident, determine whether there has been any civilian displacement, and identify urgent needs on the ground.

This is the second time the UPDF has been linked to a fatal cross border attack in Kajo-Keji. A similar incident in June 2020 resulted in the deaths of three SSPDF soldiers and a police officer. The combined fatalities from both attacks now stand at nine.

Local leaders have stressed the importance of diplomatic engagement and urged the public to refrain from retaliatory actions, warning that further violence could endanger lives and destabilise the region.