A rare and deadly clash erupted earlier this week between Ugandan and South Sudanese troops near the disputed border in Central Equatoria, killing at least eight soldiers and displacing over 100 civilians, officials said.
The firefight, described by South Sudanese authorities as a surprise attack by Ugandan forces, took place in the border county of Kajo Keji. Backed by tanks and artillery, Ugandan troops reportedly crossed into South Sudanese territory and opened fire on a joint unit. Five South Sudanese soldiers and three Ugandan troops were killed, according to both government and church sources. Bishop Joseph Aba Nicanor of the Episcopal Diocese of Liwolo, who helped mediate the recovery of bodies, said the attack sowed chaos among civilians. “Children went unattended as they got separated from their parents, the elderly remained scattered as they began to get out of the bushes to look for their unaccompanied kids, and the sick and injured had no medicine to be given,” he said.
Though both nations have historically enjoyed strong security ties — with Uganda repeatedly supporting President Salva Kiir — tensions have simmered over contested border areas and accusations of Ugandan encroachment and resource exploitation. Uganda’s military spokesman, Gen. Felix Kulayigye, offered a competing account, saying “we had to apply force” after South Sudanese forces refused to vacate Ugandan land. Both sides have agreed to a ceasefire and the formation of a joint investigation committee. Analysts warn the incident reflects rising volatility in South Sudan, where a fragile peace deal is unraveling amid renewed power struggles and deepening humanitarian crises.