Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has defended its military deployment in South Sudan, insisting the mission in Juba is legitimate and has helped prevent large-scale violence in the fragile country.
In a press statement issued Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) said the UPDF deployment was carried out at the request of the Government of South Sudan and approved by the Parliament of Uganda, dismissing criticism contained in a recent United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan report.
The UN Commission released a report on February 27, 2026, raising concerns about the role of foreign forces operating in South Sudan and calling for greater accountability for alleged human rights violations linked to the country’s ongoing conflict.
However, Col Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Tuesday said the UPDF operation remains fully lawful and consistent with international cooperation agreements between the two countries.
“The current UPDF operation in South Sudan is completely legitimate. UPDF was invited by the sovereign government of the country, and the deployment was approved by the Parliament of Uganda,” Magezi said in the statement.
“UPDF has never targeted civilians in its 45-year cherished history. That is why it is extremely popular with the people wherever it operates,” he added.
According to Col Magezi, Uganda has played a significant role in regional peacekeeping and military operations, including deployments in Somalia under the African Union mission, operations against armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and previous interventions in South Sudan, which has helped stabilise the capital and prevented violent clashes between rival groups.
“The people of South Sudan are happy with UPDF operations in the country, which prevented internecine fighting in Juba and stopped the White Army’s atrocities against the population,” the statement added.
The White Army, a loosely organised militia largely composed of Nuer youth fighters, has previously been accused of participating in violent clashes during South Sudan’s civil war.
The UN Commission report has renewed scrutiny of the fragile security situation in South Sudan as tensions persist between political factions in the unity government.
Earlier statements attributed to South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar have criticised the presence of foreign troops in the country, arguing that military deployments could complicate the political transition process and the implementation of the peace agreement.
Machar has often insisted that security arrangements in South Sudan should primarily be handled by unified national forces under the peace agreement framework.
The UPDF, however, dismissed criticism surrounding its operations and accused some international reporting of failing to fully capture Uganda’s position. “The report is not exhaustive while the media reporting is biased and does not take into consideration Uganda’s position which has been communicated numerous times to the United Nations,” Magezi said.
Uganda maintains that its intervention is aimed at supporting political dialogue, preventing widespread violence and maintaining regional stability.
South Sudan has experienced repeated political tensions since gaining independence in 2011, with intermittent fighting between rival factions despite a peace agreement signed in 2018.
Regional actors, including Uganda, have continued to play a role in supporting security arrangements while the country attempts to implement political reforms and prepare for long-delayed national elections.
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