Rogue South Sudan army officers mounted illegal roadblock — UPDF

UPDF|CRIME

The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) has blamed the October 27 border clash on rogue South Sudan army officers who mounted an illegal roadblock.

In a statement issued on Sunday (November 1, 2020), deputy UPDF spokesperson Lt Col Deo Akiiki explained that the army was compelled to respond to an illegal barricade inside Uganda.

The statement gives a chronology of events, and how the rogue elements in the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSDF) entered Ugandan territory.

Akiiki said the SSPDF spokesperson misinformed the public and conveniently omitted the finer details to create an impression that UPDF was the aggressor.

He said the sticky issue of the rogue officers acting selfishly can be resolved through top-level resoluteness.

"What happened is regrettable and can be avoided through mutual condemnation and decisive action against the remnant errant elements who, on their own frolic, made this incursion into Ugandan territory," Akiiki said.

UPDF explains genesis 

The UPDF said at 1:00 pm on a fateful day, SSPDF troops (about a platoon — 36) mounted a barricade at Ted-Nagwe (Atwila) in Pangira sub-county, Lamwo district.

Following a tip-off from the locals, the UPDF deployed in the area of Ngomoromo. As the Uganda army neared the roadblock, the commander sought out one SSPDF soldier for an explanation.

However, during the interaction, the rogue elements emerged from the bush and opened fire towards the UPDF troops, who struck out decisively.

"The SSPDF soldiers were, however, subdued by UPDF retaliatory fire in which two SSPDF soldiers died and one was captured with three guns (SMGs). There was no single casualty registered on the UPDF side," UPDF said.

Akiiki said bodies of the dead SSPDF soldiers, the captured one, and three guns were handed over to South Sudanese authorities.