Deadly clashes between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have left at least seven people dead and hundreds displaced in Uganda’s Yumbe District, following a cross-border dispute that escalated earlier this week.
The fighting, which began on Monday and continued into Tuesday, broke out in the villages of Fitina Mbaya and Goboro near the Uganda–South Sudan border. Ugandan officials accuse SSPDF soldiers of setting up an unauthorized military post 200 metres inside Ugandan territory, triggering tensions that turned violent.
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The UPDF confirmed that one of its soldiers and a civilian were killed, while South Sudanese authorities reported the deaths of five SSPDF soldiers during the confrontation.
According to UPDF 4th Division spokesperson Capt David Kamya, efforts had been ongoing for weeks to resolve the issue diplomatically. “For the past three weeks, some SSPDF elements had crossed into Uganda and constructed a military post in Fitina Mbaya village,” he said. “They displaced residents, looted food crops, and created general insecurity.”
Negotiations turned deadly when, on July 28, South Sudanese troops allegedly opened fire on UPDF soldiers attempting to engage in talks. In the ensuing exchange, two Ugandan soldiers were injured, and three South Sudanese troops were killed. The SSPDF soldiers reportedly retreated back across the border, leaving behind some of their equipment.
Local leaders say the situation has left communities terrified. Daudi Swaliki, the LC1 chairperson for Fitina Mbaya, said tensions began around mid-July when armed men from South Sudan entered the area and began constructing shelters.
“The soldiers claimed the villages of Goboro and Fitina Mbaya belonged to South Sudan,” he said. “They drove residents from their homes, looted livestock and food, and even burned houses.”
Among the civilian casualties was a local man, Mawa David, who was shot while attempting to collect belongings from his home near the border after seeking refuge elsewhere. Several others were reportedly abducted during the chaos, although a woman and three children were later released. Three men remain missing.
Yumbe Resident District Commissioner Hajji Sulaiman Lubwama Bukya confirmed the abductions and the burning of at least five homes. He said discussions are underway with South Sudanese counterparts, and a joint security meeting has been proposed to de-escalate tensions.
The violence has also disrupted education. Goboro Primary School has been temporarily closed due to safety concerns. Head teacher Alex Asega said the ongoing insecurity has left pupils unable to focus, and it is unclear when learning will resume.
The recent escalation is part of a longstanding pattern of border-related tensions between the two countries. Previous clashes have occurred in nearby districts such as Moyo and Koboko, with disputes over land ownership and patrol boundaries fueling hostilities.
In response to the latest incident, SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said South Sudan has reached out to Ugandan officials to prevent further violence and has called for an immediate ceasefire. A joint investigation committee is being formed to examine the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
The ongoing tensions present a renewed challenge to the Joint Technical Border Committee, established over five years ago to resolve such disputes. Previous efforts at cross-border cooperation, including a joint security pact signed in 2014 by former police chiefs from both countries, have been hindered by instability and poor coordination.
Residents affected by the recent violence continue to seek shelter with relatives or sleep outdoors, while community leaders and humanitarian agencies await further developments to restore calm and ensure safety along the border.
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