Four killed as UPDF soldiers in Yumbe clash with South Sudan army

By Adam Gule, Hafiz Bakhit and Christopher Nyeko

YUMBE - The relative peace between Ugandans and South Sudanese along the border in West Nile region has been cracked after a deadly clash between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) frustrated a scheduled cross-border meeting aimed at addressing border conflicts.

The clash, where four soldiers were shot dead, took place on Monday, July 28, in the rural surroundings of Fitina Mbaya village, nestled within Munduchaku Parish in Kochi Sub-County, Yumbe District.

The UPDF accused the SSPDF of illegally occupying this strategic area for the past three weeks, establishing a military detachment and disrupting local life.

On July 15, 2025, the SSPDF reportedly established a military detachment at Fitina Mbaya village about 2Km inside Uganda, from the common border.

Local authorities also reported that SSPDF soldiers had for several weeks raided gardens, stealing food and displacing families, many of them fleeing their homes.

The action sparked concerns from the Ugandan authorities, who moved to the disputed area the following day with the aim of convincing the South Sudan forces to go back to their base, but South Sudan soldiers remained adamant.

In a detailed statement released on Tuesday, Captain David Kamya, the public information officer for the Fourth Infantry Division, confirmed the UPDF had initially sought a peaceful resolution, intending to engage the South Sudanese troops in constructive dialogue to convince them to return to their designated territory.

However, these diplomatic efforts quickly deteriorated. It's reported that on Monday, when the UPDF approached the SSPDF for discussions, the situation deteriorated rapidly with the SSPDF soldiers opening fire, shooting one UPDF soldier who died instantly.

Faced with this hostile engagement, the UPDF promptly mobilised a rapid response team to counter the fire and defend their position.

In the ensuing clash, three SSPDF soldiers were killed and an assortment of military ware seized as the "enemy" retreated across the border into South Sudan.

The fight, which started around 4:00PM, lasted for more than two hours and left four soldiers dead.

Captain David Kamya, in a press release, stated that the skirmish started when the UPDF were trying to approach the SSPDF for discussions over relocation of the detachment, but the South Sudan forces instead opened fire, killing one UPDF soldier and injuring two.

“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.

Captain Kamya says, UPDF is committed towards protecting the Boundaries of Uganda and her citizens. At the time of this report, the UPDF assured the communities of safety of  Ugandans and their property.

By Midday on July 29, 2025, Toah Mafu, the LC 3 chairperson for Kochi sub-county, alleged that the South Sudanese forces were advancing through Milia village, nearing Fitina Mbaya and burned five houses.

Mafu said, the situation has caused a lot of fear amongst the people in Kochi sub as it's closer to South Sudan.

According to Toah Mafu, the LC 3 chairperson for Kochi sub-county, the South Sudan forces claimed that told them that the affected villages are inside South Sudan territory, demanding that Ugandans vacate the areas to allow South Sudan citizens settle there.

This is not the first time the UPDF and SSDF have engaged in a physical confrontation in the Area.

A similar incident in 2020 led to death of four South Sudanese Government Soldiers after a group of soldiers from Africa’s youngest Nation invaded the area, looted people’s houses, took animals and forced the people to give them money and threatened to attack them if they did not leave the area that they claimed belonged to South Sudan.

Following the public outcry, the UPDF soldiers at Goboro detach in Yumbe District at that time launched an operation at Fitina Mbaya Trading Centre in 2020 that ended with Killing of four South Sudanese Government soldiers during a fire exchange.

This prompted a team from South Sudan led by Brigadier General Thik Bol Giir S. Sudan Military Attache' to Uganda that time and a Ugandan delegation led by Major David Opeera, the West Nile Brigade Commander then to visit the scene where the officials from both countries agreed to ensure that they take full control and command of their soldiers and to improve on communication and encourage residents to report any incidents in their area.

South Sudan government also pledged to stop its troops from entering and destabilising Ugandans in Fitina Mbaya and also return all the property and money looted from Ugandans in Goboro in Yumbe district.