By Alan Clement
The Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County has raised serious concerns over the continued deployment of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) in the county’s territories.
This week forces from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) attacked a local detachment of a joint operation of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State.
The clashes left five SSPDF members dead, according to county authorities.
Following the attack, the Spokesperson of the SSPDF Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai said that the Chief of Defense Forces has reached out to his Ugandan counterpart to resolving the dispute.
He further revealed formation of a joint committee to investigate the clashes.
However, in an exclusive interview with this outlet on Wednesday, Kajo-Keji County Commissioner Wani Jackson Mule revealed that despites the national government’s plan to handle the dispute using diplomacy, the Uganda Army continues to deploy more soldiers within the disputed land.
The commissioner revealed that the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) has deployed more troops in Kajo-Keji territories, claiming that those are their areas.
“There are several areas; one is a place called Gorbeleng, another one is Merewa, and one is the place renamed Gumurope. but our own name is Alimara, and another one is called Kolurunga Mountain, included so there are four areas they deployed in; these are areas inside South Sudan,” he said.
The county commissioner confirmed residents’ frustration regarding the lack of visible action being undertaken by South Sudan governments, unlike their Ugandan counterparts.
“The mood among citizens is not good. Citizens wanted our government to take swift action like the government of Uganda. They, as well as the county office, expected a delegation to have arrived in Kajokeji by now to support the process,” Mule said, adding that soldiers in the frontline lack food and medicines.
He warned that the deployments in at least four areas in Kajo-Keji contravene the recent de-escalation agreement between South Sudan and Uganda.
“These military movements contradict the de-escalation agreement jointly reaffirmed by the security leaderships of South Sudan and Uganda,” Commissioner Mule noted, referring to the announcement made on 29 July by SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, confirming a bilateral commitment to reduce tensions along the border.
The commissioner reiterated his call for humanitarian assistance for residents of the affected areas, whom he said are scattered across four locations. “Up to now there is no support yet. These people have not received any humanitarian assistance since their displacement on 28th July, 2025,” said Mule.
He confirmed that the displaced are currently sheltered in schools in Bori Center, Bori SS, Sokare Teachers’ Training College, Merewa, and also Watakujong, all in Liwolo Payam.
Despite the pledge, the Kajo-Keji County administration said verified reports indicate a sustained UPDF presence and operational activity in the affected areas.
He warned that such actions pose a serious risk to civilian safety, regional stability, and diplomatic efforts.