By KT Reporter
Ugandan and South Sudanese security authorities have recommitted to intensified cross-border surveillance following the recovery of 236 cattle stolen by armed South Sudanese bandits.
The cattle were looted from Okidi Parish in Atiak Sub-county, Amuru District, near the Uganda–South Sudan border.
Ugandan security officials say about 11 armed men raided a herd of 354 cattle grazing near River Unyama before fleeing back into Eastern Equatoria State in South Sudan.
The case was reported at Atiak Police Station on January 29, 2026, by Godfrey Kazora, under reference number 02/29/01/2026.
The recovered animals were officially handed over during a ceremony held in Nimule Municipality on Monday, after the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) traced and secured them.
Speaking during the handover, South Sudan’s Minister of Interior, Brig. Gen. Therich Diing Therich praised the close security cooperation between the two countries, saying it enabled the swift tracking and recovery of the stolen livestock.
Gen. Therich pledged to maintain and strengthen joint surveillance operations to ensure stability along the international border.
The Mayor of Nimule Municipality, Caesar Longa Fuli, also commended Ugandan security for issuing a timely alert that prompted a swift response. “I really want to congratulate the UPDF for alerting us very early, as soon as this incident happened,” Longa said.
He condemned the raid, describing it as a “barbaric act” by enemies of peace in Eastern Equatoria State. “Eastern Equatoria is known as a peaceful state, but enemies of peace are trying to destabilize it,” he added.
In a joint statement issued by South Sudan’s Ministry of Interior, the SSPDF, the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), and the National Security Service (NSS), the security agencies pledged to recover the remaining 118 cattle still in the attackers’ hands.
“The handover was conducted in the spirit of continued cooperation, mutual trust, and commitment to cross-border security between the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Uganda,” the statement read in part.
The event was witnessed by a Ugandan security delegation led by Amuru Resident District Commissioner Geoffrey Osborn Oceng.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network on Monday evening, Oceng said the two countries are jointly working to track down the remaining animals and apprehend the suspects.
He noted that preliminary information suggests the attackers may include elements linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), alongside criminal bandits.
Oceng acknowledged that the porous border and prolonged drought have contributed to recurring cross-border cattle raids in Amuru District.
“During the dry season, when the water levels of River Unyama and Aswa go down, we become vulnerable,” Oceng said. “But we are going to strengthen our border security and surveillance along these routes.”
The incident is not isolated. On January 13 last year, armed South Sudanese raiders stole 24 cattle from Okidi Parish and fled into Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State.
The animals were later recovered. The latest raid comes amid a cross-border management agreement signed between Uganda and South Sudan in October last year, aimed at strengthening security cooperation, intelligence sharing, joint operations, and trade facilitation along the shared border.
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