Suspected Uganda People’s Defense Force soldiers have shot dead a woman and abducted three men before looting 108 heads of cattle in Bamurye Boma in Kajo-Keji County, according to a lawmaker.
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, Milla Amos Peter, Chairperson of the Kajo-Keji Parliamentary Caucus in Central Equatoria State Legislative Assembly, said Ugandan soldiers on Sunday killed a woman and looted cattle after the youth of Kajo-Keji burned down their house in protest over illegal encroachment into South Sudanese territory.
“The UPDF crossed the borderline into South Sudan and fired at the peaceful protestors and killed a woman by the name Mary Kiden Tenge and took with them three men to their barrack since Sunday to date,” said Amos.
According to the lawmaker, the Ugandans in Moyo district responded by also burning down houses of Kajo-Keji citizens residing in Gwere in Moyo district before looting another 120 heads of cattle.
“The Ugandans hosted their flag in Koiba village of Bamurye Boma and in the SPLA historical area of OTB training centre, where they settled their people and engaged in a series of activities including logging and selling of land. This angered the youth who protested by burning down the houses around OTB and Abaya villages,” Milla explained.
Amos also demanded the release of the body of the deceased woman killed by Ugandan soldiers and the return of the abducted persons under UPDF detention.
He called for the immediate return of the looted cattle of the South Sudanese settlers in Gwere-Lefori by the Ugandan authorities, where the looting took place to their rightful owners.
Another lawmaker from Kajo-Keji County, Wani Jackson Mule, has said the hoisting of the Ugandan flag in South Sudan territory is a violation of its territorial integrity.
“Two flags were already put inside South Sudan and you know hosting the flag of another country in the territory of another country is not only a criminal offense but is a violation of the territorial integrity of each and every country. Hosting flag in Bamurye and yet we know Bamurye is historical areas where SPLA during the war was staying in,” said Wani.
On Monday, Kajo-Keji County Commissioner Phanuel Dumo demanded the unconditional withdrawal of Ugandan citizens who have encroached on and are squatting in South Sudanese territory in Bamurye Payam while visiting Bamurye Payam.
The Ugandan nationals claimed that they came to South Sudan due to a shortage of farmland in their areas.