Four dead in clash between Ugandan and South Sudanese armies

A deadly clash between the Ugandan People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) occurred on Monday, July 28, in Fitina Mbaya village, Yumbe District, northern Uganda. The confrontation left four soldiers dead one from Uganda and three from South Sudan. According to Ugandan military officials, the incident took place in Munduchaku Parish, Kochi Sub-County, in a rural area near the border. The UPDF accused the South Sudanese army of illegally occupying the area for three weeks, setting up a military base inside Uganda, approximately two kilometers from the offi

A deadly clash between the Ugandan People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) occurred on Monday, July 28, in Fitina Mbaya village, Yumbe District, northern Uganda. The confrontation left four soldiers dead one from Uganda and three from South Sudan. According to Ugandan military officials, the incident took place in Munduchaku Parish, Kochi Sub-County, in a rural area near the border. The UPDF accused the South Sudanese army of illegally occupying the area for three weeks, setting up a military base inside Uganda, approximately two kilometers from the official border. Local leaders reported that South Sudanese soldiers had been disturbing nearby communities stealing food from gardens and forcing families to flee their homes. In response, the UPDF tried to resolve the situation peacefully. Captain David Kamya, spokesperson for the UPDF’s Fourth Infantry Division, explained in a statement that Ugandan soldiers initially approached the South Sudanese troops for talks to persuade them to return to their territory. However, the discussions turned violent when SSPDF soldiers reportedly opened fire, killing one Ugandan soldier on the spot and injuring two others. “We responded to their fire and put three South Sudanese soldiers out of action; we captured their equipment, forcing them to withdraw back to their territory across the border. The gunfight began around 4:00 p.m. and lasted for more than two hours. The UPDF has since assured the public that the situation is under control and that the safety of Ugandan citizens and their property is a top priority. This incident is not the first of its kind in the area. In 2020, a similar confrontation led to the deaths of four South Sudanese soldiers after they reportedly crossed into Uganda, looted homes, stole livestock, and harassed residents. South Sudan also promised to stop its soldiers from crossing into Uganda and committed to returning property taken during the 2020 conflict.