UPDF soldier killed in operation to recover raided cattle in South Sudan

UPDF soldier, private Ibrahim Congo was shot dead during an operation to recover the raided cattle in South Sudan.

What you need to know:

  • Capt Oliver Duku, the South Sudan People’s Army in Government (SPLA-IG) Chief Spy said: “It’s painful to continue losing animals at the hands of ruthless gunmen. The government of South Sudan has put plans of rescuing the lost animals. We shall continue working with Ugandan security forces to recover the animals and ensure peace at the borders.”

A UPDF soldier on Sunday died during an operations to recover about 836 animals that were raided from locals by South Sudan gunmen.
The South Sudanese gunmen raided Padiga Noth village in Metu Sub-County in Moyo District recently and took their cattle.
In the process to recover the cattle, one UPDF solider attached to Gbari detach died after being shot by the gunmen.

The officer in charge of Moyo Central Police station, Mr Denis Ocircan, confirmed to Daily Monitor that the preliminary investigations indicate that the soldier was shot dead by South Sudanese cattle raiders who sometimes dress in SPLA uniform.

“We responded to recover the stolen animals but unfortunately because of distances and lack of telecommunication network, we did not recover the animals. We exchanged bullets with the cattle rustlers and in the process one UPDF soldier, private Ibrahim Congo was shot dead,” he said.
The body of the fallen soldier was taken to Moyo hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

Two weeks ago, the gunmen from South Sudan also raided about 200 herds of cattle at Gbari village in Lefori Sub-County.

In 2009, President Yoweri Museveni and President Salva Kiir met in Moyo and visited the contested areas which South Sudanese have always claimed to belong to them.

Mr Joseph Madrara one of the residents said: “We need the two governments two to come to our rescue to avert further attacks on us. We are always living in fear. It is painful to loose such number of cattle in a day because our people depend on animals to earn a living.”

The LC5 Chairman, Mr Williams Anyama, said: “It is sad that these attacks are at a time when the army detach has been established at Gbari, but the number of the soldiers are few. This is a very serious security concern where there is no respect to territorial integrity and the two Presidents should come in to help our people.”

In 2014, the then IGPs of the two countries; Gen Deng Kuol (South Sudan) and Gen Kale Kayihura (Uganda), met and agreed to conduct joint patrols along the borders to ensure security, but these have been curtailed by the ongoing rebellion.

Capt Oliver Duku, the South Sudan People’s Army in Government (SPLA-IG) Chief Spy said: “It’s painful to continue losing animals at the hands of ruthless gunmen. The government of South Sudan has put plans of rescuing the lost animals. We shall continue working with Ugandan security forces to recover the animals and ensure peace at the borders.”