UPDF deployment to South Sudan: Minister says he was not aware of the mission

Uganda's recent military deployment to South Sudan has caused a heated discussion in Parliament. Defence Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth admitted that he was not aware of the mission, which was done without parliamentary approval. Lawmakers have strongly criticized the move, demanding an explanation from the government.

Colonel Chris Magezi, Military Assistant to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), defended the operation, saying it was necessary to protect regional security. "The UPDF acted on South Sudan’s request to prevent a deteriorating situation," he stated, denying claims that even Juba was unaware of the deployment.

The crisis in South Sudan worsened when forces loyal to First Vice-President Riek Machar clashed with government troops. This led to the capture of a key military base and the killing of a senior commander.

During the unrest, CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba confirmed through a social media post that UPDF had arrived in Juba as part of Operation ‘Mlinzi wa Kimya.’

However, the deployment has raised legal concerns. According to Article 210 of Uganda’s Constitution, Parliament must approve any foreign military operation. Opposition lawmakers, led by Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, demanded that parliamentary activities be put on hold until the government explains the decision.

Despite the growing criticism, Col. Magezi dismissed the concerns, stating that the Defence Minister is not involved in operational matters. "His job is to represent us in Parliament—nothing more," he asserted.

This is not the first time UPDF has acted without Parliament's approval. In 2021, the military launched ‘Operation Shuja’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) without prior approval, only apologizing when financial issues were raised.