Central Equatoria State has strongly condemned the reported incursion of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) into Kajo-Keji County and called on the national government to urgently engage Kampala to resolve the matter.
The statement followed Thursday’s Ordinary Council of Ministers meeting chaired by Governor Lt. Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel.
Acting Information Minister Hon. Jacob Aligo Lo-Lado told the press the cross-border move undermines South Sudan’s sovereignty and requires immediate diplomatic intervention.
“The Council reiterates that peaceful dialogue should be expedited to address this issue within the shortest time possible,” Aligo said.
Beyond the border concerns, the council condemned last week’s attack on the Mogiri cattle market, appealing to the Greater Pibor Administrative Area and Jonglei State to refrain from retaliatory incursions into Central Equatoria territory.
Aligo also raised alarm over rising insecurity in Mangalla, citing land grabbing and other illegal activities allegedly perpetrated by some internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Jonglei State.
The state government urged the National Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to expedite the safe return of IDPs once floodwaters recede.
The cabinet further reviewed a memo from State Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities Hon. David Morbe, detailing multiple land grabbing cases and recommending measures to curb the practice.
The council resolved that all land demarcation within Central Equatoria be handled exclusively by the State Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities, and directed the development of a comprehensive Land Policy to guide land administration.
