(YUMBE) – A deadly clash between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has left seven people dead and displaced over 200 civilians in Yumbe District near the South Sudan–Uganda border. The incident has reignited long standing tensions over disputed land in the area.
The fighting broke out on Monday, 28 July 2025, and continued into Tuesday, following reports that South Sudanese soldiers had crossed approximately 200 metres into Ugandan territory and set up a military detach in Fitina Mbaya village, Kochi Sub-county. According to the UPDF, the SSPDF had been stationed at the site for nearly three weeks, harvesting crops from local farms, displacing villagers, and causing widespread fear.
UPDF’s 4th Division spokesperson, Capt David Kamya, said efforts to negotiate the SSPDF’s withdrawal failed when South Sudanese troops opened fire, killing one Ugandan soldier and injuring two others. In the ensuing response, three SSPDF soldiers were killed, and others retreated back across the border.
South Sudanese officials later confirmed the recovery of five SSPDF bodies from a nearby forest. The total death toll includes one UPDF soldier and a civilian identified as Mawa David, who was reportedly shot dead while returning to his home to collect belongings.
The civilian casualties and troop deployments have disrupted life in the area. Goboro Primary School was temporarily closed due to fears of continued fighting, with school authorities instructing learners to remain at home. Head teacher Alex Asega said the school will only reopen when the security situation improves.
Local leaders have expressed concern about ongoing threats to civilians. Daudi Swaliki, LC1 chairperson of Fitina Mbaya, said the South Sudanese soldiers claimed the Ugandan villages of Goboro and Fitina Mbaya belong to South Sudan. He added that residents had reported soldiers feeding on local livestock and seizing food from community members. Swaliki confirmed that Mawa David was shot dead and that several homes were burned.
He also reported the abduction of seven civilians — three men, a woman and three children — during the clashes. While the woman and children were released later that night, the three men remain missing.
Yumbe Resident District Commissioner, Hajji Sulaiman Lubwama Bukya, confirmed the abductions and destruction of homes in Milia village. He said some of the kidnapped civilians were freed, but others had not returned. Bukya indicated that Ugandan authorities are coordinating with South Sudanese counterparts to hold a joint security meeting to prevent further violence.
The area serves as a major transit point for South Sudanese refugees entering Uganda and has been the site of previous clashes. Local residents like Harriet Agasiru say the renewed conflict has forced families to flee their homes, with many sleeping in the open without shelter.
SSPDF spokesperson Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang said the South Sudanese military had reached out to Ugandan forces and called for an immediate halt to the hostilities. He announced plans to form a joint investigation committee to examine the causes of the fighting.
The incident presents a serious challenge to the Joint Technical Border Committee established five years ago to prevent such confrontations in Yumbe, Moyo, and Koboko districts. Previous cooperation agreements, including a 2014 deal between former South Sudan IGP Gen Deng Kuol and Uganda’s Gen Kale Kayihura, have been weakened by persistent insecurity and poor coordination.
Historical disputes along the Uganda–South Sudan border have sparked numerous confrontations over the years, including:
| Timeline of Cross-border Clashes | Details |
|---|---|
| August 2009 | Armed Sudanese disrupted MTN construction at Jale in Moyo |
| September 2009 | SPLA soldiers attacked farmers in Gwere village |
| November 2010 | SPLA arrested 13 farmers in Lefori Sub-county |
| March 2012 | SPLA held nine Ugandan MPs hostage during land monitoring |
| March 2018 | South Sudanese gunmen raided Padiga North village, killing a UPDF soldier and stealing 836 animals |
The current exchange follows a pattern of unresolved territorial disputes and military tensions. While both governments have made public statements calling for peace and cooperation, the latest violence underscores the fragile nature of border relations.
South Sudan and Uganda maintain close political and economic ties, with trade, migration and security coordination regularly featuring on bilateral agendas. However, repeated incidents along the border risk undermining those relations and putting civilian populations at risk.