In an open letter addressed to the two leaders on Monday, the cleric called for an urgent and peaceful resolution of the ongoing border disputes that have sparked deadly confrontations and displaced communities in Kajo-Keji and other areas along the two countries’ frontier.
Addressing the leaders with what he described as “a plea for decisive and statesmanlike leadership,” Aba warned that the long-standing territorial tensions—stretching from Magwi in Eastern Equatoria to Kaya in Central Equatoria—have evolved from a technical boundary issue into “a humanitarian and security crisis.”
“The impact has been grave: loss of countless lives in avoidable confrontations, displacement of families from ancestral homes, interruption of livelihoods, with farmers and traders unable to access their fields or markets, and erosion of trust between communities who once considered each other family,” the bishop wrote.
Kajo-Keji County, one of the hardest-hit areas, has witnessed repeated clashes between South Sudanese and Ugandan security forces in recent months, as both nations claim swathes of fertile land along the border. Local Kuku, Ma’di, and Aringa communities—historically bound by intermarriage, trade, and cultural ties—have seen relationships strained amid accusations of encroachment, harassment, and land seizure.
Bishop Aba reminded both leaders of Uganda’s historic role as an ally during South Sudan’s liberation struggle and as a refuge for displaced citizens during times of war. He warned that failure to act could entrench resentment and “leave future generations with a legacy of hostility instead of hope.”
Quoting scripture and appealing to the moral duty of leadership, the bishop urged Kiir and Museveni to publicly commit to nonviolence, establish a joint boundary commission involving community and religious leaders, protect civilians in disputed areas, and use African Union mediation frameworks to reach a durable settlement.
“The decision before you is not simply about where a line is drawn on a map,” he said. “It is about whether the history between Uganda and South Sudan will be defined by brotherhood or bitterness, by collaboration or confrontation.”
The border dispute between the two East African neighbours has persisted since South Sudan’s independence in 2011, with several rounds of technical talks yielding limited progress. Bishop Aba’s appeal adds to growing calls for both governments to prioritise diplomacy over force in resolving the tensions.
On Saturday, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, held high-level discussions with President Salva Kiir at State House in Juba. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and regional stability.
Sudans Post also understands that Juba and Kampala agreed on forming a joint 14-member committee to investigate the root causes of deadly clashes along the two countries’ shared border.
