At least four soldiers were killed on Monday in deadly clashes between Ugandan and South Sudanese forces at a disputed border area, the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) confirmed Wednesday.
Ugandan military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye told Xinhua News Agency that the firefight broke out in the Fitina Mabaya area, located between Uganda’s Yumbe District and South Sudan’s Kajo-Keji County.
According to Kulayigye, one Ugandan and three South Sudanese soldiers died during the exchange. However, officials in Kajo-Keji County released an earlier statement claiming that five South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) soldiers were killed.
The UPDF says the clash began after SSPDF troops crossed into Ugandan territory and set up a military post—an action Uganda says violated the international border agreement.
The land dispute between Uganda’s Yumbe and Moyo districts and South Sudan’s Kajo-Keji County remains unresolved, heightening tensions in the area.
Authorities from both countries have yet to issue a joint statement or announce steps toward de-escalation.
