Clashes between Uganda, South Sudan forces killed six: Officials - Africa
Uganda has a history of involvement in impoverished South Sudan and has long provided military support to President Salva Kiir, including a deployment of special forces since March.
It was not clear what triggered the clashes on Monday between the Ugandan People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and government troops in Central Equatoria State, which were confirmed by the army, the South Sudanese People's Defence Force (SSPDF).
Police in Kajo Keji county, where the clashes took place, said "two SSPDF officers, two prison officers and a police officer" were killed, according to a statement from local authorities on Wednesday.
The statement quoted local army commander Henry Buri as saying the Ugandan forces "were heavily armed with tanks and artillery" and had targeted 19 "joint operation" forces.
Ugandan army spokesman Felix Kulayigye told AFP they "lost one soldier during the exchange of fire".
He said "elements" of South Sudan's army had entered Uganda, resulting in the confrontation.
Local chief Erasto Tumiya, who witnessed the incident, told AFP it occurred after an attack by unknown assailants, with the subsequent army deployment "misunderstood by Ugandan authorities as a provocation".
He said, "The Ugandan army prepared and launched a surprise attack, even bringing seven tanks."
Resident Leju Champlain said the Ugandan army "started firing at the South Sudanese forces with all their ammunition, including from armoured vehicles", adding the soldiers also used rocket-propelled grenades.
"Civilians went into disarray and ran randomly, and even now, some people have not found their children and are still searching," he added.
'Truly desperate'
Local bishop James Lule urged the countries to work together to avoid a repeat of the situation that had left displaced people "truly desperate".
"Some of them are currently camping in churches and schools within Bori Boma due to fear," he said.
Uganda sent troops to support Kiir when civil war broke out in the country in 2013, just two years after it gained independence from Sudan.
The civil war between Kiir and his long-time rival, Riek Machar, lasted five years and left some 400,000 dead before a power-sharing agreement was reached in 2018.
Uganda again deployed special forces in March this year as Kiir moved once again against Machar, eventually placing him under house arrest.
That has all but buried the power-sharing deal and triggered conflict between the army and members of a militia from Machar's ethnic Nuer community.
According to local media, the Ugandan army has used chemical weapons, namely barrel bombs containing a flammable liquid that killed civilians, against Nuer militias in South Sudan's northeast.
Uganda has denied the accusations.
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