A Fatal Shot Across a Porous Line
On 29 December, an SSPDF military intelligence officer was shot dead near Tururu Ajo village, Kajo-Keji County, minutes from the Ugandan frontier, authorities confirmed. Commissioner Wani Jackson Mule calls it “a preplanned incursion” by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.
The slain officer had been tasked with monitoring suspected movements of the National Salvation Front, an armed opposition group that intermittently drifts across the disputed border, according to county officials.
Conflicting Narratives Cloud the Facts
Commissioner Mule alleges UPDF troops crossed into South Sudan, “attacked him, killed him, and took his body,” before releasing stories to Ugandan media claiming the soldier was a thief caught inside Uganda.
Kampala-based outlets, including NTV Uganda, reported that the officer died during a robbery involving a motorcycle, phones, and cash. Kajo-Keji authorities dismiss the account as “false and misleading,” insisting the mission had formal clearance.
Diplomacy Faces a Test
The officer’s remains were transferred to Yumbe District in Uganda, where they are reportedly held under military guard. Repeated requests for repatriation through diplomatic channels have so far met silence, Mule told Eye Radio.
Ugandan authorities have also detained a local South Sudanese chief and his family, insisting the shooting occurred on Ugandan soil. Juba officials contend the arrest undermines planned cross-border peace talks aimed at calming the frontier.
Historical Friction and Next Steps
The Kajo-Keji region has witnessed sporadic clashes tied to unclear colonial-era demarcations and the presence of armed holdouts. Previous joint committees have struggled to convert technical surveys into realities on the ground.
County officials urge the governments in Juba and Kampala to restart mapping exercises and finalize rules of engagement. “Only a transparent process will prevent another tragedy,” one South Sudanese security analyst in Juba commented.