South Sudan’s government on Monday confirmed the presence of Ugandan military forces in the country, reversing its earlier denial and citing a longstanding bilateral security pact to address threats.
Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters in Juba that Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) “technical and support units” are currently operating in South Sudan under a military agreement between the two nations, originally forged to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
The announcement follows a week of government denials after Uganda’s military publicly acknowledged its deployment in Juba to “protect” President Salva Kiir amid rising insecurity.
The UPDF’s presence in South Sudan revives memories of Uganda’s controversial military intervention during the 2013-2016 conflict, which drew international scrutiny.
“This is not a secret. It happens all over the world,” Makuei said, comparing the arrangement to past U.S. military operations in South Sudan’s Yambio Western Equatoria targeting the LRA. “The UPDF here are support units assisting their brothers and sisters in the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).”
The minister emphasized that the pact allows for mutual defense of “people, government, and territorial integrity,” dismissing criticism of the deployment as unwarranted.
Detainees and Nasir violence
Makuei, who is also the government spokesperson, also addressed last week’s resolution by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc, urging the release of detained allies of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar if evidence against them is lacking. He asserted that officials stripped of immunity would face investigation for alleged attempts to “overthrow the government,” adding, “If innocent, they will be released. If guilty, they will face the law.”
Separately, Makuei warned the White Army—a militia the government links to Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO)—to vacate Nasir County in Upper Nile State or face military action.
He accused the group, historically tied to Nuer civilian fighters, of destabilizing the Upper Nile region since the 1990s and rebranding under new factions like the Nuer Defence Force.
“Any civilian in a military zone refusing to leave will be treated accordingly,” he said, confirming government airstrikes on Nasir County but denying civilian targeting. “Operations focus on armed elements. If you are among forces, that’s your risk.”
The White Army, instrumental in past rebellions including the 2013 civil war, has yet to respond.
South Sudan remains fragile under a shaky 2018 peace deal between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.