General Edward Wamala, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), announced at a press conference in Kampala today that “the boys are coming home,” stressing that another top general has gone to South Sudan to oversee the process of withdrawal.
As quoted by the official Uganda Media Centre, the Ugandan presidency’s mouthpiece, Wamala said that they will be out by the first week of November. For his part, Ambassador James Mugume, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the order will take effect immediately.
A third official, Henry Okello Oryem, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, explained in a press statement that the withdrawal comes in compliance with the terms of the recent South Sudan peace agreement.
This agreement states that Uganda should complete its withdrawal within 45 days of the signing of the peace agreement, a deadline that has already passed. Oryem highlighted that the withdrawal takes effect immediately from today.
It is worth noting, however, that Ugandan forces that have been based in Western Equatoria State since before South Sudan’s civil war began with the purpose of tracking Lord’s Resistance Army fighters, are permitted by the peace agreement to remain in Western Equatoria.
The majority of troops, however, have been based in Jonglei state. General Wamala said the size of the force withdrawing is a “reinforced brigade.”
Uganda’s troops fought on the side of Salva Kiir since the start of the war began, but have mostly remained in defensive positions around Jonglei and Central Equatoria since recapturing Bor in January 2014.