Kaya is a city in Central Equatoria, South Sudan.

Location

The city is located in Kimba Payam, Morobo County, Central Equatoria State, in extreme southwestern South Sudan. It is located near the international border with the Republic of Uganda. Kaya is located approximately 78 km, by road, southeast of Yei the nearest large city. This location lies approximately 220 km, by road, south of Juba, the capital of South Sudan and largest city in the country. Kaya sits directly across the border from Oraba, in Uganda.

History

Kaya was a battle scene during the Second Sudanese Civil War and was conquered by the Sudanese People's Liberation Army during Operation Thunderbolt on 10 March 1997.

Foreign help

On October 6, 2017, Uganda pledged to supply power to two South Sudanese border towns as part of the Eastern Africa Power Pool agreement. The agreement calls on all member states to connect electricity to each other. Uganda's energy minister Simon D'Ujanga said "400 kilo-volts of power will be supplied to the towns of Kaya and Nimule to boost socio-economic activities in the border areas".

Demographics

There are no reliable population estimates for the city because:

Economy

The city's infrastructure was badly damaged during the civil war. However, since the cessation of hostilities in 2005, commercial life is gradually returning to the city. The road between Kaya and Yei was repaired. It was financed by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the World Food Program. With those repairs completed, the travel time between Kaya and Yei was reduced from five hours to one. The city is served by a branch of Equity Bank South Sudan Limited.

Points of interest

The following points of interest are found in or near the city:

Clans in Kaya

Common languages spoken in Kaya

Climate Change