Kajo-Keji Commissioner Phanuel Dumo. | Photo: City Review SS

Kajo-keji County Commissioner in Central Equatoria state said Sunday the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) have moved deep into South Sudan and were seen setting up tents in their new bases amid the ongoing border dispute.

Phanuel Dumo also said the government of Uganda has abruptly called off a meeting between border communities and closed the border.

The new development comes a day after the Central Equatoria government called communities in Kajo-keji to leave the border dispute in the hands of the national government.

In a security meeting chaired by Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony on Friday, the government voiced optimism about resolving the conflict with Uganda through diplomacy.

However, Commissioner Dumo said the locals were surprised by the cancelation of a scheduled meeting, which was supposed to reconcile the border communities.

He said locals in Bori are surprised to see UPDF put up barracks in Luwalei village, which he claimed is undisputedly a South Sudan land.

The commissioner said the move taken by Ugandan forces has cut off the movement of the communities in the open borders between the two countries.

According to the official, the Ugandan troops appeared to have permanently settled in three locations and may not be leaving any sooner.

“Yesterday (Saturday), the UPDF deployed their forces to a place that is supposed to host the meeting, they have now put up their tents which is the indicator that they are not going to move from there,” Dumo told Eye Radio.

“This means they are in the state of readiness, and they have also announced that the border is closed, that exit is closed nobody from camp will be allowed, and nobody will be allowed even to cross.”

“So, this is the major steps the Ugandan government has taken, and they have three locations where they have deployed their forces.”

Commissioner Dumo stated that they have alerted the state government to inform the national government about the matter.

He said the situation is volatile and needs intervention from the national government and SSDPF.

“When we had this information yesterday, we talked to relevant authorities in Central Equatoria to alert the national government, because such deployment means there is an agenda behind it.”

“You cannot take forces and deploy it in somebody’s land, this one we call it an aggression, and by this, we say for us to succeed, we want the SSPDF committee of military plus the UPDF, two groups have to sit and resolve that matter.”

When contacted, South Sudan army Spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said he cannot comment until Monday when he establishes facts on the situation.

In the past, there had been similar accusations of illegal border crossings and settlements between Kajo-Keji and Moyo and Yumbe Disriscts in search of resources.