The Parliament of Uganda has approved the UPDF’s deployment to South Sudan, previously executed without authorization. The security situation is critical, with arrests and violations threatening the peace agreement. Defense Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth emphasized the legal framework for the deployment, citing defense cooperation agreements and the potential regional implications of unrest in South Sudan. Lawmakers support the action for stability and mutual benefit.
On Thursday, the Parliament of Uganda sanctioned the government’s decision to deploy the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) to South Sudan. This deployment had occurred weeks prior without parliamentary authorization, which is contrary to legal protocols. The security landscape in South Sudan is precarious, with serious breaches of the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) signed in 2018.
Recent events intensified the situation, as security forces in South Sudan arrested the deputy army chief and two ministers supportive of Vice President Riek Machar, an action condemned by opposition representatives as a significant infringement on the peace accord. The unrest stemmed from clashes in Upper Nile state involving government troops and the White Army militia, previously allied with Machar during South Sudan’s civil conflict, which began in 2013 after a power struggle with President Salva Kiir.
Following these developments, troops were dispatched to Juba by the Ugandan government without prior approval from Parliament. Subsequently, Defense Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth presented a motion to Parliament endorsing the UPDF’s deployment, referencing existing defense cooperation agreements between Uganda and South Sudan. He cited Section 49 of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces Act, which requires such arrangements to be formalized through a state of forces agreement.
Oboth Oboth reiterated that the military engagement was grounded in prior agreements from 2014 that allowed deployments under cooperative defense provisions between the nations. He stressed that heightened tensions in South Sudan could negatively impact Uganda’s security and stability.
On March 10, 2025, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan formally requested military assistance from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to stave off potential chaos. Oboth asserted that the actions taken were in line with Uganda’s constitutional obligations and aimed to prevent a regional security disaster, highlighting the historical relationship and commitment between the two nations.
The Uganda People’s Defense Forces have previously engaged in peacekeeping and stabilization efforts in South Sudan and beyond, a strategy that the government believes has proven successful and necessary for continued regional peace.
In summary, the Parliament of Uganda has validated the deployment of the UPDF to South Sudan amidst escalating tensions that threaten regional stability. The decision comes after unapproved troop movements and reflects the Ugandan government’s commitment to regional security through historical ties and existing defense agreements. Support for the deployment is evident among lawmakers, recognizing the integral connection between peace in South Sudan and stability in Uganda.
Original Source: chimpreports.com
