Past scenes where a village in KajoKeji was burnt amid simmering border tension. | Office of the Governor/Facebook.

The Commissioner of Kajo Keji county, Central Equatoria state says the Uganda People’s Defense Force has established a base in an area belonging to South Sudan.

Phanuel Dumo says the deployment is at Center Murle in Kerwa Boma where the UPDF had built what was termed as security protected road.

The area was named during the decades of liberation struggle by a freedom fighter from Boma of Greater Pibor.

“Today, UPDF has claimed that this is their territory because they have created this road when they were doing what they called security protected roads.

“Our forces went there when they learn that UPDF was also re-enforcing their positions. So, they were side by side, but we ordered our forces to come back to their place origin that is Chadinga.

According to Dumo, he informed Central Equatoria State Local Government Ministry about the issue.

“But surprisingly, the UPDF brought their tens there, they deployed their forces between that area and even brought food.  This one is something different.

The motive of the deployment is unclear.

The latest escalation comes months after South Sudan authorities held a dialogue to promote peace between the bordering communities of Kajo-keji and Uganda’s West Nile region.

When contacted, SSPDF spokesperson said he was not aware and would contact the area commander to find out the