Barricade tape for crime scene (Courtesy)

Members of the Central Equatoria State parliament representing Kajo-Keji County have condemned the killing of a woman and abduction of civilians by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces in the area.

The legislators said the UPDF crossed the borderline into South Sudan on the weekend and opened fire at civilians peacefully protesting occupation South Sudan territories in Kajo-Keji.

The UPDF reportedly killed a woman identified as Mary Kiden Tenge and abducted three men.

Speaking at a news conference in Juba on Thursday, Amos Gulla, who read out a statement on behalf of the Kajo-Keji Parliamentary Caucus, condemned the incidents.

“We condemn the incursion, killing, abduction of civilians, burning of houses and looting resources. We also demand the released of the body of the deceased woman and the return of the abducted persons under UPDF detention,” Gulla said.

Eye Radio was not able to contact the Uganda army for comment on the reports of killing and abduction.

The lawmakers also said there has been repeated encroachment by Ugandans from Moyo and Yumbe Disriscts in search of resources and with the intention of extending Uganda’s territory deep into South Sudan.

They said Uganda, which borders South Sudan to the South, has been exploiting South Sudan’s internal issues to occupy its territories with impunity.

“Our territorial border integrity in Kajo-Keji County has reportedly been encroached several times by inhabitants of Uganda from Moyo and Yumbe districts in search of natural resource and by default extension of Uganda territory along our borderline,” they said in a statement.

“They are doing it in exploit of the instability and focused attention of our State and National Government on other national pressing priorities.”

The MPs said the latest incursion was orchestrated by a certain Ugandan dealer popularly known as Wajaras Khemis, who has been leading bandits to burn the houses of locals and carry out logging in the area.

In 2014, a similar incursion by Uganda caused bitter fighting between Moyo and Kajo-keji inhabitants.

On May 7, 2023, the commissioner of Kajo-Keji County Phanuel Dumo said over 100 men from Moyo and Yumbe districts have occupied the area claiming it is a Ugandan territory.

Dumo said he ordered the foreigners living inside a school and abandoned villages to leave the area and return to their country.

Speaking at the national parliament on Wednesday, the lawmakers “denounce and condemn in the strongest terms possible the continuous disrespect of South Sudan territorial intergrity through repeated incursion across its borders.”

However, they called for restrain and de-escalation from both sides of the border to allow constructive dialogue between the Central Equatoria State authorities and their Ugandan counterparts.

They further call upon the humanitarian agencies to intervene to help the people whose houses have been burnt.

It is not the first time border authorities have complained about foreign incursion into South Sudan’s territories.

On April 1, 2023, lawmakers representing Eastern Equatoria State at the national parliament accused both Kenyan and Ugandan authorities of annexing territories from the disputed Illemi Triangle to Budi, Ikwotto and Magwi counties.

The legislators said the Kenyan government was constructing an 11-kilometer road and creating a sub-county in South Sudan’s Nakodok area.

Kenya previously denied claims that it has encroached South Sudan’s territory arguing that it respects the boundaries of its neighbors.

But its envoy to Juba, Samuel Nandwa was summoned in February to protest the alleged encroachment that fitted Taposa and Turkana communities against each other and sparked brief tribal clashes.