The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and other security agencies in Northern Uganda have acknowledged that the porous Uganda–South Sudan border remains a major route for illegal firearms and cross-border criminal activities. The admission comes amid growing concerns that some South Sudanese nationals involved in criminal activities are disguising themselves as refugees and infiltrating refugee settlements in Lamwo District.
Security agencies in both Uganda and South Sudan are currently pursuing a notorious suspect identified only as David, who is believed to be behind a recent wave of armed robberies and motorcycle thefts in Gulu City and other parts of the Acholi Sub-region.
Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori, Commander of the UPDF Fourth Infantry Division, told Uganda Radio Network that the vast and largely unguarded border makes it difficult for security forces to effectively monitor all illegal crossing points. The Uganda–South Sudan border stretches more than 400 kilometres through the districts of Kitgum, Lamwo, Amuru, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, and Koboko.
“Sometimes I don’t want to tell you a lie. How do you ensure that you stop them? There is nothing separating us from them; it is just an open area. Because the border is porous, you can’t deploy soldiers at every point. Sometimes it is very difficult,” Gen. Busizoori said. According to Gen. Busizoori, the proliferation of illegal firearms is not solely the work of South Sudanese nationals, noting that some Ugandans also cross into South Sudan to purchase guns.
He said security agencies have intensified operations in recent months, leading to the recovery of firearms from four South Sudanese nationals. Two of the suspects were convicted and sentenced to prison terms at Lugore Government Prison in Gulu District, while two others are awaiting trial before the General Court Martial.
Gen. Busizoori urged the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information, emphasizing that security is a shared responsibility. “This effort should involve all of us, the media, local leaders, and communities themselves. Most of our successful operations are based on information provided by the public. We appeal to the public to continue sharing that information,” he said.
Lamwo Resident District Commissioner William Komakech also acknowledged that some South Sudanese nationals suspected of criminal activities have infiltrated refugee settlements after registering as refugees.
Komakech said security agencies in Uganda and South Sudan have identified and are pursuing a key suspect believed to be linked to a network responsible for several cross-border crimes. “As security, we are tracking him from both sides of the border. He is one of the most wanted fugitives and has been operating in Gulu, Lamwo, and Kitgum districts together with some of his associates,” Komakech said.
He noted that security operations have helped dismantle parts of the criminal network and shut down several illegal crossing routes, including Gony Latin in Putika Parish, Agoro Sub-county, and Aboloro near the Ngomoromo border.
Lamwo District has four gazetted border entry points, Aweno Olwiyo, Waligo, Ngomoromo, and Musingo, which security officials say are currently under close surveillance. In neighbouring Amuru District, security officials also acknowledged that armed South Sudanese nationals continue to enter Uganda through porous border points despite heightened security measures.
One of the most affected areas is Okidi Parish in Atiak Sub-county, which borders the volatile Magwi County in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State. Amuru Resident District Commissioner Geoffrey Osborn Oceng said 22 head of cattle recently stolen by armed South Sudanese pastoralists were successfully recovered.
The incident occurred barely four months after security forces recovered 236 head of cattle stolen from Okidi Parish and taken to Magwi County.
Oceng emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between Ugandan and South Sudanese authorities in combating cross-border crimes, including gun trafficking and cattle rustling. “We call for stronger cross-border collaboration to ensure such crimes are effectively addressed. We need to continue engaging South Sudanese authorities to tackle criminal activities along our shared border,” Oceng said.
He also appealed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, particularly the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, to document all urban South Sudanese refugees residing in Gulu City to help security agencies and local leaders monitor their movements when necessary.
The renewed concerns come amid a recent surge in gun-related crimes across the Acholi Sub-region, where at least three people have been killed in separate incidents over the past month, and ten motorcycles have been stolen. The latest incident occurred on Thursday night in Ongako Sub-county, Omoro District, where a 25-year-old mobile money operator was shot dead by unknown gunmen, heightening fears among residents and the business community-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
