world 7 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Returns Bodies of Two South Sudanese Soldiers After Months in Mortuary
Ugandan authorities in Yumbe District have formally handed over the bodies of two South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers to South Sudanese officials. The soldiers' remains had been held at the Yumbe Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for several months. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-hands-over-bodies-of-two-south-sudan-soldiers-after-months-in-mortuary-5587032
Bodies of two South Sudanese soldiers, held for months in a Ugandan mortuary, have finally been returned to their home country. The handover ceremony took place at the Afoji border point in Moyo District on Monday, September 7, 2026.
One of the deceased soldiers was identified as Corporal Daniel Agweli, 27, who was reportedly shot by Ugandan security personnel on December 19, 2025. Ugandan authorities stated that Agweli had allegedly robbed a charcoal dealer of money, a motorcycle, and a phone before opening fire on officers attempting his arrest. However, South Sudanese officials, including Kajo-Keji County Commissioner Wani Jackson Mule, had previously contested these robbery claims.
The second soldier was killed in April 2026 during a cross-border clash between Ugandan and South Sudanese forces. This incident, which occurred near the Kerwa and Kajo-Keji areas, also resulted in the death of a Ugandan army detachment commander.
Yumbe Resident District Commissioner, Sulaiman Lubwama Bukya, emphasized that the handover aimed to foster stronger bilateral cooperation and allow the soldiers’ families to conduct proper burials. He noted that while the situation along the border is currently calm, ongoing negotiations are underway to secure the release of detained citizens from both nations.
Lubwama highlighted past incidents, including the detention of a Ugandan local council chairperson in Kajo-Keji and the arrest of a South Sudanese national in Yumbe. He stressed the importance of continuous communication between Ugandan and South Sudanese authorities in preventing border tensions from escalating, referencing agreements made during a recent bilateral meeting in Arua.
This event underscores the complex security dynamics and ongoing efforts to maintain peace between the two neighboring countries, particularly in the border regions that have historically experienced cross-border crime and armed confrontations.