According to Lt. Col Akiiki, when the army received information from residents, UPDF troops moved from Ngomoromo to Ted Nagwe on a fact-finding mission but met resistance from the SSPDF soldiers who opened fire at them.
Heavily armed UPDF soldiers at Nisitu barracks in South Sudan during rescue operation of Ugandans in 2016. Photo by Julius Ocungi (1)
The Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF and South Sudan
People Defense Forces are trading accusations for alleged failure to
respect each other’s territorial
boundaries triggering clashes along the Uganda-South Sudan border.
On Tuesday last week, UPDF was involved in heavy gunfire exchange with SSPDF soldiers at Otwilo in Pangira Parish in Lokung subcounty, about 1.5 Kilometers inside Uganda from Ngomoromo border post in Lamwo
district. Two South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces soldiers were gunned down while another was captured alive in
the skirmishes by UPDF with three SMGs.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, Lt. Col Deo Akiiki, the
Deputy UPDF noted that about 36 South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces troops had established an illegal roadblock and an
ambush several kilometres inside Uganda’s territorial boundary on unclear
reasons.
According to Lt. Col Akiiki, when the army received
information from residents, UPDF troops moved from Ngomoromo to Ted Nagwe on a
fact-finding mission but met resistance from the South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces soldiers who opened fire
at them.
“While approaching the spot where the illegal roadblock was, one South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces soldier
was spotted and the UPDF commander approached him for an explanation. While
interacting with him, the rest came from the ambush and instantly opened fire
towards the UPDF troops,” Lt Col Akiiki stated.
He, however, says UPDF soldiers subdued the South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces, soldiers, in a retaliatory fire
killing two and capturing another with three guns (SMG). Lt Col Akiiki denied
claims that UPDF registered any causality in the clashes.
However, in an earlier statement Maj. Gen Lul Ruai Koang, the South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces Spokesperson that indicated two UPDF soldiers were killed in the
clashes. Gen Koang also alleged that the UPDF made a major incursion into their
territory with heavy artillery pieces and light military trucks mounted with
12.7mm machine guns and launched a cross border attack at their defensive border post at Pogee in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria state.
“South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces squad heroically fought to protect the territorial integrity of our beloved
country. However, that small force was outnumbered, outgunned and was
temporarily forced to retreat. A hasty counterattack codenamed "operation
Restore Territorial Integrity of the Republic of South Sudan was launched to
flush out the mechanized unit of UPDF" Gen Koang stated.
Lt. Col. Akiiki rubbished Gen Koang statements as false and maintained that the South Sudan Peoples Defence Forcesintruded into Ugandan territory. “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 ostensibly for the unofficial and individual criminal ends of
extorting and robbing the Ugandan public,” he said.
He notes that the continued incursions onto Ugandan territory by South Sudanese
armed elements present a challenge not only to the border communities but to
the brotherly relations between the two countries. Last week’s incident is the
second violent encounter the UPDF has had with armed elements from South Sudan
over the disputed international boundary following the deadly clashes in 2015 when
more than 200 armed men from South Sudan invaded Ngomoromo village.
Bureau Chief, West Acholi