Four killed in a fresh clash between UPDF and SSPDF in Yumbe
Those reported dead include one UPDF officer and three SSPDF officers, but their details still remain unclear because the UPDF is yet to pronounce itself on the incident.
Resident District Commissioner for Yumbe Hajji Sulaiman Lubwama Bukya. (Photos by Adam Gule)
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At least four people have been reportedly killed in a fresh clash between the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Yumbe.
Those reported dead include one UPDF officer and three SSPDF officers, but their details still remain unclear because the UPDF is yet to pronounce itself on the incident.
The confrontation began on July 14, 2026, at around 5pm in a Centre Muruli, in Keriwa sub-county in Yumbe district.
Moses Abajo, the LC 3 chairperson for Keriwa sub-county, said the incident began when UPDF moved to engage the SSPDF over an Army detachment they have established at Adrejo, about 9 km deep inside Uganda.
He said the SSPDF instead opened fire at the UPDF, and the UPDF fired back, causing a serious fire exchange for over two hours.
Other witnesses said that after the confrontation, the Uganda soldiers withdrew to the UPDF detachment in Ujipaku trading centre in Keriwa sub-county, but the SSPDF followed back on July 15, 2026, and attacked Mijikita parish, particularly the Mijikita trading centre.
Asiku ( left) shaking hands with one of the 13 arrested Ugandans after their release at Afogi border customs in Moyo district on Thursday.
They allegedly broke into people's shops, bars and looted different commodities, plus animals and birds of the local community.
According to Abajo, the raid on July 15, 2026, caused panic among the locals, and hundreds of people flee their homes and now camp at Mijale UNHCR collection centre in Mijale trading centre.
"People are living in fear. After the clash between the UPDF and the SSPDF, the SSPDF returned on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, and looted people's shops, bars and animals," he said.
He added that "people could not manage to stay in their homes, especially those around Mijikita and other border areas. They moved to Mijale UNHCR collection centre without any help."
The Resident District Commissioner for Yumbe Hajji Sulaiman Lubwama Bukya, equally confirmed the incident.
He said the clash came following an effort by the UPDF to secure part of Uganda's territory where the SSPDF reportedly established three army detachments in Puure, Adrejo and Gobiri.
Bukya said, on July 7, 2026, a team of SSPDF invaded sub-counties of Keriwa and Kochi and abducted 17 people, including women.
According to Bukya, on July 13, 2026, the UPDF were simply following up on the resolution of removing the detachment, which turned into a confrontation.
"The UPDF successfully managed to put down the detachment at Adrejo and lost one UPDF officer," he said.
"In the same way, the UPDF were able to put three of the SSPDF out of action and recover guns, uniforms and rounds of ammunition," said Bukya.
He, however, assured that more UPDF have been deployed in the areas and the situation is calm.
"The situation now is calm. There is no need for panic because our army are on ground to address the challenges," he said.
Abdulmutalib Mahamoud Asiku, the LC 5 chairperson, Yumbe District, described the incident as unfortunate between the two sister states.
The unrest is affecting the socioeconomic development of the locals in the area because people can't settle in a place for a year without being displaced.
He appealed to the office of the President to engage with the counterpart of South Sudan to design an everlasting solution to the issues.
"The President needs to interest himself in this matter. It's not proper for another State to establish three army detachments in another State without authority. He said, the president needs to push for border re-demarcation, especially along the Koboko, Yumbe and Moyo border.