Cross border raids increase as prolonged dry spell hit-hard

Robert Mone and Fatuma Janet Alinder

05/08/2026

Yumbe District

Security officials from Uganda And South Sudan meeting at Goboro-Kochi Sub county in Yumbe after repatraiting abducted Ugandans

A section of South Sudanese uses porous borders and loose security to raid foodstuff from local farmers in Yumbe district on Uganda side.

These raids, attacks and abduction occur during harvest seasons between June-September and December-January annually, with Kerwa and Kochi Sub County feeling the pinch more.

Last month, Seventeen Local farmers who were rounded up and abducted to aid transportation of foodstuff while their gardens with some victims picked from their respective homes from Komorofe village in Yumbe District about a month ago, but later repatriated with the help of South Sudan's authorities.

The repatriated individuals who spent one month and one week  at Lala, Liwolo Payam in Kajo keji county,  included Taban Yasir ijoga Safi 19-years old, Astaku Stephen Adima John 21 years old, Rahaman Siriga Idema Aha 16 years old, Baruku Faruku Aguzu Nuru 18 years old, Alema Brayan Edema Stephen 19 years old, Kadri Noah Aviriga Swali 25 years old, Madira Morris Alidro Yosia 20 years old, Feni Anuar Ramadan 26 years old, Ijangu Alfred Nyakuni 20 years old, Rukiya Malda Anuar 40 years old, Afisa ceka Toka Noah 31 years old, Farida Atimaku Yassin 23 years old, Diciru Asina Tuka Noah 11 years old, Safe Akim Tuka Noah 4 years old, Kamon Mazidi Toka Noah 4 years old, Zawadi Sakiya Aviriga 3 years old and Dudu Bakole 78 years old.

This practice has reoccurred for many years, something that both Uganda and South Sudanese authorities seem not to be bothered about the suffering of the local residents.

Prior to recent raids, Dudu Bakole, a 78 years old farmer claimed that he lost 400-bags of cassava to south Sudanese youth.

“These youth around the border rob food and normally threaten people here always, they took my 400 sacks of cassava”, Bakole narrated.

“I came from Koboko district to get cassava stalks and they attacked me with pangas; they cut my head and hand while saying that Ugandans are grabbing their land. They wanted to kill me, I told them to just kill me and leave my body on the road but the South Sudan military rescued me and took me to Lala, Liwolo,” Bakole added.

Besides food raids, there is recurring border conflict among the locals in the area with each other claiming land grabbing by their counterparts. This practice has escalated disputes in the area.

Anule Mansur, a local resident of Komorofe village in Kerwa Sub County alleges that a group of youth from Gorbe Lang and Matu village regularly attack their areas robbing both food and livestock.

Anule said, one identified as Sebit Khemis who claimed that he was attacked by local residents where his bicycle got destroyed.

According to Anule, Sebit came with a bicycle carrying a jerrycan of water, but later dismantled his bike alleging the Aringa people cut his bicycles in pieces.

“Sebit cut his own bicycle as we watched, at first, we thought he was just clearing the bush, but we realized he was destroying his bicycle, we tried calling him together with a Muganda man burning charcoal nearby but Sebit claimed that the Aringa had attacked him and destroyed his bicycle,” Anule added.

“This man later called the Commissioner in South Sudan, who sent soldiers to abduct us, " Anule alleged.

While authorities from both countries are calling for dialogue, the victims insist that unless civilians causing trouble are controlled, peace at the border will remain under threat.

Anule Mansur, said such cases were reported to the Sub County chairperson of Kerwa who intervened but isolated cases still persist.

Ceka Afsa, said the attacker did not provide shelters to abductees where she was beaten by rain with her young children under the watch of South Sudan soldiers.

Aduru Reima, a farmer from Komorofe, says Sebit Khemis who has become a traitor came to their village earlier this year claiming that he was driven by hunger from South Sudan looking for land to carry out crop cultivation.

“After the drama of Sebit, those who escaped arrest went into hiding but after returning home, they found their foodstuff looted. I lost 2 sacks of cassava, crops drying in the sun and 2 bags of beans,” she explained.

In April this year, 181 heads of cattle were raided with only 78 successfully rescued from Goboro and Fitina Mbaya all in Yumbe district.

This continued raid on border communities has drawn attention of the cultural institution with the Aringa Kingdom raising similar concerns.

Lemeriga Fadhil Kujo, Prime Minister of Aringa Kingdom said in April armed men crossed into Yumbe District, driving many locals away from their homes southwards, where One person was injured and admitted at Yumbe Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.

“These incursions haven't just started but have been numerous with the latest being at Goboro and Fitina Mbaya last year in Kochi sub county, Yumbe District. 

The victims are still recovering from the devastation and havoc wrecked on the local population by the armed forces from South Sudan” Lemeriga explained.

Lemeriga added that It becomes more disturbing when the generosity of the Aringa people is being paid back with bad currency having offered free land at Bidibidi for the settlement of South Sudanese refugees. 

This hospitality has continued to be abused despite the environmental damage to the land and its indigenous.

In a statement, “Aringa Kingdom is appealing for permanent deployment of more army along the border to ward off these incursions, an inter boundary community for dialogue between the Aringa in Uganda and Kuku, Pojulu and other tribes in South Sudan be immediately organized in order to promote peaceful coexistence”.

The statement added that It’s not proper that the people of Yumbe District who share the same ancestral history with their South Sudan counterparts continue to view each other as adversaries.

The kingdom Prime Minister Lemeriga insisted that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan should finally have the boundary between the two sister countries defined to put an end to this cross-border incursion.

“It's already been 100 years since 1926 that the imaginary boundary was marked. This centenary year should be for physical delineation with permanent pillars like at the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo” Lemeriga added.

Lemeriga said, Aringa people need peace after devastating war in 1979 that forced many into Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, the impact of West Nile Bank Front and Uganda National Rescue Front ll rebel activities till the historic peace pact of December 24, 2002 with the Government of Uganda.

Ugandan authorities have been communicating with their counterparts in South Sudan with the office of the Resident District commissioner of Yumbe District, in-charge of security issuing several letters to promote peaceful coexistence.

Vuyaya Vuni Mathew, the deputy Resident District commissioner of Yumbe said many Ugandans abducted are yet to be traced and reunited with their families including one Chiriga Ame who was abducted on December 29th, 2025, with his whereabouts remain unknown.

Vuyaya argues that release of those in captivity and strengthening cross border dialogue would help to restore the fragile peace among communities living along borders of the two states.

Abajo Lobure, the sub county chairman of Kerwa calls on both states to prosecute criminals from either country to restore sustainable order along the borders.

In response to raids, Captain Innocent Peter Michael, an official from South Sudan, said it was not a government action but a fight between farmers and youth that led to the recent abduction.

“The South Sudan army rescued the Ugandans from violent youths and moved them to safety so that talks could happen” Peter said.

Captain Muni Lomuja Muhammad, a police officer from kajo keji county in South Sudan called for calmness, as investigation into recurring attacks and counter attacks are ongoing.

“We cannot decide who is wrong until we investigate, but I confirmed that the abductees were safe and asked the Ugandans to sign papers confirming they had received them back” Muni stated.

Last year in August, Border Tensions between South Sudan and Uganda escalated that left more than 300-grass thatched hut raised down by fire,and more than 100-people displaced and properties worth millions of Ugandan shillings looted in the tragedy that left some armed men dead after gun fire exchange.

Attackers are reportedly demanding Ugandans vacate the entire Goboro and Munduchaku border areas, claiming them as South Sudanese territory.

Historical Background

The border between Uganda and South Sudan has been a flashpoint for tensions for decades, influenced by ethnic, historical, and political factors. Disputes intensified after South Sudan’s independence in 2011, but conflicts date back to the Sudanese civil wars, when border areas experienced frequent incursions and violations.

A notable escalation occurred in 2014, when violent skirmishes erupted near Kajokeji County in South Sudan and Moyo District in Uganda, resulting in at least 20 deaths and thousands displaced. Despite a memorandum of understanding in 2015 aimed at reducing tensions and completing border demarcation, progress has been limited, and disputes over areas like Soniu, Yumbe, and Moyo districts persist.

Between July and August 2025, Clashes near Kajo-Keji and Yumbe districts left at least four soldiers dead and displaced hundreds of civilians. Both sides accused each other of crossing into disputed territories, with incidents including burning of houses and theft of cattle and weapons

The conflict is driven by several interrelated factors such as Unclear boundaries in areas like Yumbe, Moyo, and Kajo-Keji, Resource competition, Ethnic and historical grievances, Political instability in South Sudan.

South Sudan–Uganda relations share a 475 km-long border, with both countries establishing joint border committees to address disputes, with plans to complete demarcation by 2027.