The spokesperson of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has confirmed the deployment of its special forces in South Sudan to support the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
The circumstances under which the UPDF was deployed remain unclear, as there has been no public authorization by Uganda’s parliament.
In recent weeks, tensions have escalated between forces loyal to President Kiir and those of his First Vice President, Riek Machar, who leads the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO).
Last week, militias allegedly loyal to Machar overran the town of Nasir in Upper Nile State, killing numerous people, including a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) commander in the area.
The violence prompted Kiir’s administration to intensify a crackdown on Machar’s allies. Among those detained are the Petroleum Minister and several senior military officials aligned with the First Vice President.
These developments have raised renewed concerns about the stability of the fragile 2018 peace agreement, which ended a brutal five-year civil war.
In an exclusive interview with Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday afternoon, UPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye confirmed the troop deployment, stating, “The mission is to support the government of South Sudan due to the growing insecurity in the country.”
Gen. Kulayigye emphasized that the deployment serves the interests of both Ugandans and South Sudanese citizens. When asked about the legal basis for the intervention, he replied, “If there was no agreement [between the two governments], this would constitute an invasion.”
He added, “Our forces are already in the country. The mission will continue as long as the security threats persist. We will determine the withdrawal timeline based on developments. I cannot disclose the number of troops involved.”
The confirmation follows a statement by Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who revealed on social media platform X: “UPDF commandos have arrived in Juba to support SSPDF in the current crisis. Operation ‘Mlinzi wa Kimya’ has begun. God bless UPDF.”
SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang declined to comment when contacted by Radio Tamazuj. Efforts to reach South Sudan’s Information Minister, Michael Makuei, were unsuccessful.
Uganda has historically played a significant role in South Sudan’s conflicts.
In 2013, Ugandan troops intervened in Juba to bolster Kiir’s government during the civil war triggered by clashes between Kiir and Machar.