Commissioner Reports Gunfire and Fresh Border Clashes in Kajo Keji Villages

(KAJO KEJI COUNTY) – Local authorities in Central Equatoria State say Ugandan soldiers have entered two border villages in Kajo Keji County and fired shots, in what they describe as the second incident in less than two weeks linked to the ongoing Uganda-South Sudan border dispute.

Kajo Keji County Commissioner Wani Jackson Mule told reporters that gunfire was reported on Friday morning in Merwa and Gorbeleng villages, both in Bori Boma.

He said that at around 10:00 am, during a county security meeting, information was received that soldiers from the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) had allegedly crossed the border and opened fire.

“The UPDF entered Merwa and then Gorbeleng, shooting randomly. I am not sure if they were firing into the air or targeting civilians. These are farming communities where civilians live. We have no army or police there, only a local headman and villagers,” Mule said.

The area remains without formal security deployment, and no official confirmation has yet been issued by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) due to the remoteness of the villages and the absence of communication infrastructure.

The latest incident comes just over a week after five South Sudanese security personnel were killed in Nyainga-Muda village, Kangapo Two Payam. The victims included two SSPDF officers, two prison officers and one police officer. Local officials blame the UPDF for that attack.

Commissioner Mule said both UPDF and SSPDF soldiers have maintained positions in the border zone since clashes broke out on 28 July.

“Since the fighting on the 28th, they have remained in the area. The SSPDF controls one part, and the UPDF controls another. So it is not something new for them to be there. It is not that they just entered and took over,” he explained.

The South Sudanese government is expected to send the Minister of Defence to Uganda for discussions aimed at reducing tensions and preventing further violence.

Since the start of 2023, at least nine people have been killed in transboundary incidents in Kajo Keji County that local authorities attribute to Ugandan forces.

Despite the recent shooting, Commissioner Mule said Kajo Keji remains relatively calm.

Kajo Keji County is located in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan, bordering Uganda to the south. It is part of the Greater Equatoria region and has long-standing social and economic ties with neighbouring Ugandan communities.

The county is known for its fertile land, with most residents engaged in subsistence farming, growing crops such as cassava, maize, and groundnuts. Cross  border trade, both formal and informal, plays an important role in local livelihoods.

Kajo Keji has been affected by recurring security challenges, including armed conflict during South Sudan’s civil war and periodic cross-border disputes with Ugandan forces. Its strategic location, coupled with limited security presence in rural areas, has made it vulnerable to incidents involving the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

The county is home to a mix of ethnic communities, primarily the Kuku people, and has also hosted internally displaced persons and returnees from refugee settlements in Uganda.