One dead, over 30 injured in tribal clashes at Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement

Kiryandongo: One person has been killed and more than 30 injured following violent tribal clashes between the Nuer and Arab communities at the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Kiryandongo District.

The incident, which began last Wednesday night, reportedly stemmed from disputes over water sources, a football pitch, and land allocation within the settlement. Tensions escalated, resulting in physical confrontations between the two groups.

Keith Gilbert, the Acting Settlement Commandant, confirmed the violence and noted that calm has since been restored following the deployment of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to the area.

“We have brought in security forces to stabilize the situation. All stakeholders are involved in restoring peace, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” Gilbert said.

Adam Ibrahim, a South Sudanese refugee caring for the injured, reported that over 40 people were affected by the violence. Many of the injured were rushed to Panyadoli Health Centre III, while others in more critical condition were transferred to Kiryandongo Hospital.

Roseline Ayigi, the Principal Nursing Officer at Kiryandongo Hospital, confirmed that the facility began receiving casualties last Friday.

“One person was brought in already deceased, while several others are still in critical condition but are responding to treatment,” Ayigi said.

Dan Muganga, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kiryandongo, stated that 34 people, mostly Sudanese Arabs, were affected by the attack. He attributed the conflict to mounting pressure over shared resources such as water points, children’s playgrounds, and land.

“This tension likely has roots in pre-existing tribal divisions from their home countries,” Muganga said. “We have imposed a temporary curfew and deployed security to prevent further violence. So far, five suspects believed to have incited the clashes have been arrested.”

He urged refugees not to flee the settlement and reassured them that efforts are underway to apprehend all remaining perpetrators.

Kiryandongo District is one of Uganda’s largest refugee-hosting areas, currently accommodating over 150,000 refugees from South Sudan and Sudan.

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