By Matik Kueth
Uganda and South Sudan’s top military brass have agreed to deepen collaboration and launch coordinated efforts to address volatile border tensions between the two countries.
Senior commanders from the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) and the South Sudan Peoples’ Defense Forces (SSPDF) met this week at the Defense and Intelligence headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala, to chart a new path toward peace and stability.
The meeting was jointly chaired by UPDF’s Commander Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, and SSPDF Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Dau Aturjong Nyuol.
The bilateral engagement was initiated by Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, following his recent high-level discussions with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir in Juba earlier this month.
The discussion centered on resolving recent cross-border tensions, particularly flare-ups in South Sudan’s Kajo-Keji County and Uganda’s Yumbe District.
Lt Gen Muhanga, speaking on Gen. Kainerugaba’s behalf, highlighted the longstanding solidarity between the two forces, reminding participants of shared sacrifices in previous conflicts, from the SPLA’s liberation struggle to battles against Joseph Kony’s insurgents.
“These incidents are not conflicts between our two governments or armies. We must treat them with maturity, and I believe our dialogue today is the beginning of a real solution,” Muhanga said.
However, Gen. Aturjong echoed the sentiment, delivering greetings from President Kiir and voicing full support for joint military action.
“When we unite in security operations, we leave no space for destabilizers. Our people deserve peace, and this cooperation will help secure it,” he noted.
The meeting, attended by several high-ranking officers from both countries, set the stage for future joint patrols, intelligence-sharing, and rapid response mechanisms designed to defuse tensions before they escalate.