A security incident involving South Sudan President Salva Kiir’s entourage briefly disrupted proceedings during Uganda’s presidential swearing-in ceremony held Tuesday at Kololo Grounds in Kampala.
The incident, which drew attention from regional observers, involved one of Kiir’s bodyguards whose clothes were reportedly torn during a confrontation with Ugandan security personnel.
The event was attended by several heads of state, including Kiir, who had travelled to witness President Yoweri Museveni take oath for another term.
According to accounts from individuals familiar with the situation, the altercation occurred as Kiir’s security detail attempted to maintain close proximity to the South Sudanese leader while navigating restricted sections of the venue.
Ugandan elite security units, tasked with enforcing strict access control at the high-profile ceremony, are said to have blocked the bodyguard, triggering a brief scuffle.
Witnesses indicated that the situation escalated when the bodyguard resisted being pushed back, leading to a physical struggle in which his suit was torn. The confrontation was quickly contained, and no injuries were officially reported.
While no formal statement has been issued by either the Ugandan or South Sudanese governments regarding the incident, early reports suggest the clash may have stemmed from a breakdown in coordination between visiting presidential security teams and host country forces.
Security at Kololo Grounds had been heightened due to the presence of multiple dignitaries, with Uganda’s Special Forces Command (SFC) taking charge of overall protection and protocol enforcement.
Such events typically require seamless coordination between host security agencies and foreign presidential guards to avoid confusion over movement and access zones.