Uganda MPs have backed the deployment of troops to shore up peace in neighbouring South Sudan.
Defence minister Jacob Oboth had presented a motion for a resolution of parliament to support the deployment during the sitting of the House chaired by Speaker, Anita Among on Thursday, 20 March 2025.
Oboth said that civil unrest erupted in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State at the beginning of March prompting President Salva Kiir to request his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni for urgent support to avert a potential security crisis.
Ugandan commandos were seen in the capital Juba on a peace enforcement mission following unrest in South Sudan’s Upper Nile earlier this month.
Last week more UPDF troops were deployed to South Sudan.
Oboth said President Museveni’s decision was based on Uganda’s commitment to patriotism, nationalism and Pan-Africanism.
“It was done in a spirit of brotherhood, solidarity and shared historical and regional ties between the two countries,” he said.
Oboth justified the deployment of the UPDF saying that the security situation in South Sudan is likely to result into serious negative security implications for Uganda, economically, socially and politically.
“The deployment of UPDF in South Sudan has previously enabled and will continue to enable the stabilisation of security, peace enforcement, protection of lives and prevention of further escalation of conflict in South Sudan which is beneficial to Uganda, the region and Africa at large,” he said.
Gilbert Olanya, (FDC, Kilak South County) seconded the motion with a call on lawmakers to support the deployment.
“Anyone who comes from Acholi and West Nile would highly support the deployment of the UPDF in South Sudan. For the sake of peace for the people from Northern Uganda and those doing business in South Sudan, let us highly support it” said Olanya.
He added that deployment of the UPDF in South Sudan not only guarantees peace in that country, but also in Uganda.
WN/as/APA