The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) have moved to quell tensions over alleged encroachment into each other’s territories.

This comes in the wake of SSDF unguided soldiers from Andejo Barracks under the command of Capt Gabriel Galwak erecting a flag three kilometres inside Uganda on February 5, 2023.

Capt. Galwak also proceeded and made bricks for the construction of structures to establish a detach at Center Murule in Tire village, Lui Parish, Kerwa sub-county, Yumbe district about 9kms inside Uganda.

Capt. Galwak also proceeded and made bricks for the construction of structures to establish a detach at Center Murule in Tire village, Lui Parish, Kerwa sub-county, Yumbe district. (Courtesy photo)

Defence deputy Spokesperson Col. Deo Akiiki said on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, that the elements were making mistakes under their own command and they had been discouraged from such acts that antagonise harmonious existence.

“We reinforced our unit in this area as a deterrence measure of such acts of provocation,” he said.

He confirmed that the Security Advisor to the Governor Central Equatoria of South Sudan had initiated meetings with local leaders in Uganda and the issue “is being amicably and in the spirit of East Africa and brotherly coexistence of the two countries being handled".

Akiiki said during this same incident, armed men, on February 20, 2024, eight South Sudanese dressed in civilian clothes speaking Arabic, armed with three AK-47 rifles and five pangas robbed four goats from one Siriba Amidu a resident of Alema Village, Goboro Parish, Kochi sub-county, Yumbe.

They went back towards SSPDF barracks at Gobiri in Gwere West Parish, Lefori sub-county in Moyo district.

“It is suspected that the these were elements of SSPDF that have always disturbed Ugandans along the border.  UPDF has contacted SSPDF at Kajokeji to follow up on these elements. A team from UPDF visited the victim Amidu,” he added.

Border demarcation committee

Col. Akiiki said in 2019, the Governments of South Sudan and Uganda formed a joint technical border committee to resolve border tensions by demarcating borders.

The committee made up of 26 members was formed after a cross-border meeting in mid-January 2019 held in Uganda’s northern district of Lamwo.

Torit State Governor Tobiolo Alberio Oromo while addressing the media upon his arrival from the meeting said the committee was asked to demarcate the border between Uganda and South Sudan.

“The joint technical border committee was formed from South Sudan 13 members and from Uganda. There were also 13 members making a number of 26. The terms of reference were to sensitise the people living along the border so that they know that the committee has been formed to demarcate the border,” Alberio said

The committee was also tasked to acquire necessary equipment for demarcation including colonial maps.

“They were to get all necessary equipment including the map of 1956 when Sudan was given its independence and Uganda was also to acquire their maps and then other gadgets were also to be used as GPS and the rest of recommended equipment,” Alberio added.

Governor Alberio revealed that funding was the main challenge facing the committee saying the work to demarcate the border would have been completed.

He hailed the African Union Border Programme for training the committee members promising that they were ready to carry out their mandate once funds are availed.

The meeting followed accusations from both countries accusing the other of encroaching into their territories creating tensions among the border communities.

Incidences of S Sudan borderline land conflict.

On May 7, 2023, South Sudanese attacked Gwere North Parish in Moyo district about 8km inside Uganda. They burnt houses, destroyed property and illegally evicted Ugandans from their own land. 3,018 persons were displaced.

On June 16, 2023, SSPDF soldiers totaling 75 were deployed in Gobiri trading centre in Linyamiro village, Lefori sub-county only 1.5km from a UPDF Detach, 5km away from the border with South Sudan.

On July 26, 2023, SSPDF soldiers at Andejo Barracks crossed 6kms into Uganda at Center Murule in Tire Village, Lui Parish, Kerwa sub-county, Yumbe District and established a detach.

Note: their Andejo barracks is about 500 metres from Center Murule still in Uganda 9Kms away from the border.

The UPDF from 69 Battalion advised them to stop establishing Detach at Center Murule and they abandoned the plan for now.