Violent tribal clashes have erupted in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in western Uganda, leaving one person dead and more than 30 others injured, police and community sources confirmed.
The violence, now entering its fourth day, has prompted a heavy security deployment across the settlement and surrounding areas.
According to Police Spokesperson Rusooke Kituma, the conflict appears to stem from tensions between newly arrived Sudanese refugees and members of the Nuer community—both groups originally from South Sudan. The precise cause of the clashes remains unclear.
“We have one confirmed fatality and have made two arrests. Several others are injured, some with serious machete wounds,” Kituma said.
Eyewitnesses described a climate of terror within the camp, with victims being targeted in night-time attacks.
Homes have been broken into, and individuals assaulted with pangas (machetes), particularly in sections housing the newest arrivals from Sudan, many of whom fled fresh fighting in their country earlier this year.
“It’s a situation of fear. People are not sleeping. Some families are hiding in the nearby bush, while others have moved closer to the police post for safety,” said one resident, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
As of Sunday, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the UN refugee agency UNHCR had not issued formal statements.
However, local authorities said emergency coordination efforts were underway to separate the warring groups and restore stability.
Police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have been deployed in large numbers to patrol the settlement, with access roads to some sections of the camp now restricted.
Authorities say this is a precautionary measure to prevent further escalation.
Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement is home to tens of thousands of refugees, primarily from South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Known for its relative stability compared to other settlements in Uganda, the outbreak of such deadly violence has raised serious alarm among humanitarian agencies and host authorities.
“We need conflict mediators and urgent psychosocial support for these communities,” said a local NGO worker, also speaking anonymously.
“Many of these people are already traumatized by war, and now they are experiencing violence again in what was meant to be a place of safety.”
Authorities have called for calm and are urging residents to report suspicious activity. Investigations into the root causes of the violence are ongoing.