16 Ugandans have been released a day after they were arrested for conducting census inside South Sudan.

Local authorities say the enumerators were conducting census in Sunyu area at Panapo one, Kajo-Keji County of Central Equatoria.

Uganda is carrying out its national census which began on 27 August. It’s not clear why the officials attempted to hold it in South Sudan’s territory.

However, some Kajo-Keji officials believe that the numerators tried to conduct the exercise in the area, thinking it was a Ugandan territory.

Kajo-Keji County spokesperson Baden Alikana told Eye Radio that the authorities have discussed the matter with the Ugandan officials and have agreed on suspending the census.

“The commissioner has stated very clearly that no census should be carried out along the borderline inside South Sudan,” said Mr Alikana.

“They have agreed that the two authorities of Uganda and south Sudan and particularly moyo and kajo-keji should commit the commitment of the two president the issue of border could be left into hands of two president of Uganda and south Sudan.”

The border area is being disputed between the two countries. Earlier last year, Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Salva Kiir held discussions over the disputed areas and urged the border communities to leave the matter to the two governments.

The meeting came after the communities clashed over the land ownership.