The NRM parliamentary caucus, in a meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe this afternoon, issued resolutions supporting the deployment of the UPDF in South Sudan amid recent conflicts. In a statement signed by Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua, the caucus said that ” the deployment of the UPDF is in line with Uganda’s constitution and the UPDF Act.”
“We the members of the NRM Parliamentary caucus…….hereby resolve to support the deployment of the UPDF in South Sudan as a necessary intervention for peace enforcement to protect lives, restore stability, and a prevent further escalation of conflict,” the statement states.
It adds that, “we the members of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus hereby resolve ….To support the proposal for Parliamentary approval of the deployment of UPDF in accordance with Uganda’s constitution and UPDF act.”
Parliament had this week questioned the deployment.
Defence Minister Oboth Oboth had told parliament he was not aware of the UPDF presence in South Sudan, days after it was reported they had landed in Juba to help protect President Salva Kiir.
Col Chris Magezi, the Military Assistant for Public Relations to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), later explained the presence of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in South Sudan without parliament’s knowledge.
“The UPDF acted decisively on the request of the government of South Sudan to avert a dangerously developing situation and deployed forces accordingly. This action is also in the interest of regional security. The Hon Minister of Defence is never involved in the operational matters of UPDF. His job is simply to represent us in Parliament,” Magezi said on X.
“The Hon. Minister will in due course be brought up to speed with the relevant details of our role in the fast unfolding security situation of our crucial ally and northern neighbor. It was important for the UPDF to act with expediency to contain the situation.”
