Uganda’s Parliament has approved the deployment of its military forces to South Sudan following a request from President Salva Kiir to help quell escalating violence in the Upper Nile State.
- •The move marks the latest intervention by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in the conflict-prone nation, reflecting Kampala’s ongoing role as a regional stabilizer.
- •The decision came after Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth, presented a motion for parliamentary approval, citing a formal plea from South Sudan on 10th March.
- •Uganda’s previous interventions have helped solidify Museveni’s influence in the region but also drawn criticism from some quarters for bolstering Kiir’s government.
“President Salva Kiir requested President Yoweri Museveni for urgent military support to avert a potential security catastrophe. The deployment is not only a gesture of solidarity but a necessary measure to prevent further destabilization that could spill over into Uganda,” Oboth told lawmakers.
The request for military support was made under the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation and the Status of Forces Agreement between the two nations. While the UPDF has previously played a role in stabilizing conflict zones, critics argue that prolonged military presence could deepen regional entanglements and strain Uganda’s own resources.
The deployment was supported by lawmakers, including Gilbert Olanya—a legislator from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Olanya emphasized that instability in South Sudan directly affected the livelihoods and security of Ugandans, particularly those in Northern Uganda who conduct business across the border.
“Anyone from Acholi and West Nile would highly support this deployment. For the sake of peace for the people from Northern Uganda and those doing business in South Sudan, let us highly support it,” Olanya said.
South Sudan’s Escalating Conflict
The conflict in Upper Nile can be traced back to historical tensions between the Nuer and Dinka communities—and it is unlikely that foreign military intervention, especially from Uganda—would restore a lasting peace.
The approval of the Ugandan intervention follows the decision by South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to swear in General James Koang Chuol as the new governor of Upper Nile State, tasking him with ending ongoing hostilities and restoring peace in the troubled region.
However, the appointment is likely to aggravate the conflict as it violates the 2018 peace agreement—which mandated that the position of Upper Nile governor was to be filled by a nominee from the party of First Vice President Riek Machar. The decree replaced Gen. James Odhok Oyai—who was appointed in January 2023 as part of the power-sharing agreement.
The South Sudanese army has launched massive airstrikes in the region, with support from the Ugandan troops, attempting to retake Nasir, a town in Upper Nile seized by the ‘White Army’—associated with Machar’s faction. At least 50,000 people have fled the Upper Nile State, according to the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).
The renewed conflict will greatly undermine peace talks between the Opposition and the Government currently undergoing in Nairobi after Machar’s party withdrew from the process.