Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Following public denial by Jacob Oboth Oboth, Uganda’s minister of Defense, on Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deployment to South Sudan, President Yoweri Museveni has pronounced himself on the development.
In a document titled: “National Resistance Movement Parliamentary Caucus Meeting, 14th March 2025, State House Entebbe Resolutions,” President Museveni said the Government decided to support the deployment of the UPDF in South Sudan as a necessary intervention for peace enforcement to protect lives, restore stability, and prevent further escalation of conflict.
“Recognising Uganda’s historical commitment to patriotism, nationalism and pan Africanism in pursuit of national security and regional stability, and our long standing role in safeguarding the lives and property of Ugandans and Africans at large through strategic military interventions in various countries across the continent,” we decided to intervene in South Sudan,” he said in the document dated March 14th 2025.
Museveni said that this move was prompted by the recent appeal by President Salva Kiir of South Sudan to him [Museveni] for urgent support following the outbreak of conflict in that country.
“This was in appreciation of Uganda’s prompt and strategic response to deploy the UPDF in the spirit of brotherhood, solidarity, security of Uganda and the economy, and recognizing the shared historical and regional ties between Uganda and South Sudan,” he said.
The statement, signed by Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Whip and Chairperson, NRM Parliamentary Caucus, the statement further said that the Government has resolved to support the deployment of the UPDF in South Sudan, and to support the proposal for Parliamentary approval of the deployment of the UPDF in accordance with Uganda’s constitution and the UPDF Act.
Defence denial
The defence ministry had earlier on contradicted the statements made by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson, Felix Kulayigye, over UPDF deployment in South Sudan.
Gen. Muhoozi and Kulayigye had confirmed the deployment of the Ugandan military to the war-torn South Sudan as tensions escalate between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar, raising fears that their fragile peace deal could collapse, and a conflict could resume.
“I haven’t participated in any meeting authorizing such deployment,” said Oboth Oboth. He asked Parliament for more time to verify the reports.
The Defence Minister made the remarks on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday. This was in response to concerns raised by the Kira Municipality lawmaker, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, who urged Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa to suspend the parliamentary session until the government clarifies why the army was deployed without parliamentary authorization, as required by law.
