HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Two Ugandan transporters, including truck driver Jamil Kawooya and his turn man, have been shot dead in an ambush by an unidentified armed group along a road linking Juba City to Kapoeta Township in South Sudan.
The gruesome attack occurred at Nakawulira, where the two Ugandans were reportedly waylaid by armed men as they travelled towards Kapoeta to rescue another truck belonging to Kawooya that had developed a mechanical breakdown.
According to information shared by the Alliance of Heavy Truck Drivers’ Federation, Kawooya was driving back towards Kapoeta when the attackers intercepted their truck and opened fire.
Kawooya was reportedly shot dead while still seated behind the steering wheel, bringing his journey to a tragic end.
His turn man, whose identity had not immediately been established, reportedly attempted to escape by running into nearby bushes after the shooting started.
However, the attackers pursued him and shot him dead, ensuring that neither of the two Ugandan transporters survived the assault.
Preliminary police reports indicate that the attack was carried out by two unidentified gunmen dressed in uniforms resembling those of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).
It was not immediately clear whether the assailants were serving military personnel, armed civilians impersonating soldiers or members of another armed group operating in the area.
Fresh concerns over truckers’ safety
The killings have renewed concerns about the safety of Ugandan truck drivers operating in South Sudan, where insecurity along some transport corridors exposes commercial drivers to armed attacks, robbery and other forms of violence.
Ugandan transporters are an important part of the regional supply chain, moving goods between Uganda and South Sudan, particularly through routes connecting Juba and other commercial centres to neighbouring countries.
The Juba-Kapoeta corridor is particularly important for cross-border trade, but insecurity in parts of South Sudan continues to pose risks to drivers and other road users.
The latest incident also highlights the vulnerability of truck crews who sometimes have to travel long distances to attend to vehicles that break down along isolated highways.
In Kawooya’s case, what should have been a routine recovery mission for a stranded truck ended in the deaths of two Ugandan workers.
Questions over attackers’ identities
The reported use of military-style uniforms by the attackers raises further concerns about the difficulty of distinguishing legitimate security personnel from armed individuals operating on South Sudan’s roads.
The identities and motives of the gunmen remained unclear, while details about whether any arrests had been made were not immediately available.
The Alliance of Heavy Truck Drivers’ Federation is expected to face renewed pressure to engage relevant authorities over the security of Ugandan transporters working across the border.
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