One Dead, Over 30 Injured as Violence Erupts in Kiryandongo Refugee Camp

By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

One person has died and over 30 others have been injured at Uganda’s Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement following four days of intense clashes between South Sudanese refugees and more recent arrivals from Sudan. The violence, which has reportedly involved crude weapons, has prompted a heavy security deployment and raised alarm among humanitarian organizations.

NBS Television was among the first to report on the escalating situation, which saw hostilities erupt in the sprawling camp. According to police and community sources cited by other local media, the conflict appears to stem from heightened tensions and tribal differences between the established South Sudanese refugee population and new groups who have fled the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

Eyewitnesses describe a climate of fear within the settlement, with some families fleeing into nearby bushes or seeking safety closer to police posts. Reports indicate that victims suffered severe injuries, including machete wounds, and several homes were broken into during night-time attacks.

The violence has drawn attention to the deteriorating conditions within the camp, where humanitarian aid has reportedly dwindled, exacerbating tensions over scarce resources. Uganda currently hosts tens of thousands of refugees from various conflict-affected nations, including over 81,000 Sudanese refugees who fled after April 2023.

Local authorities, alongside the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), have deployed significant numbers of personnel to patrol the settlement and restrict access to certain sections in an effort to contain the unrest. While emergency coordination efforts are underway, humanitarian workers are calling for conflict mediators and urgent psychosocial support for the traumatized communities. Investigations into the precise cause of the clashes remain ongoing.