By Matik Kueth
The Army Chief of Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced that Ugandan troops are deployed in Juba to protect President Salva Kiir amid escalating tensions in South Sudan.
Gen. Kainerugaba revealed this on his X platform Tuesday, emphasizing that Ugandan forces are in South Sudan specifically to secure Juba for President Kiir.
The move comes as fears rise that the fragile peace deal between Kiir and his deputy, Dr. Riek Machar, could collapse, potentially reigniting conflict.
“We the UPDF only recognize one President in South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir, he is our ‘Afande’ even in UPDF uniform because he’s the younger brother of Mzee!” Gen. Mahoozi said.
He added, “We shall protect the territories of South Sudan like it is our own. That’s the will of the commander in Chief.”
Ugandan soldiers, as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia. AMISOM Photo / Tobin Jones
As concerns about Juba’s security situation mounted, the U.S. took precautionary measures by ordering the evacuation of all its non-emergency staff from the country.
Last week, the arrest of the deputy army chief and two ministers—all allies of Machar—by security forces prompted accusations of “grave violation” of the peace deal from Pal Mai Deng, SPLM-IO spokesman
The arrest followed clashes in Nasir, Upper Nile state, involving the SSPDF and armed youth known as the White Army.
According to government spokesperson Michael Makuei, the arrested SPLM-IO officials were involved in the recent SSPDF and White Army clashes. The White Army had fought alongside the SPLM-IO during South Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in 2013 due to a power struggle between Kiir and Machar, leading to heavy fighting in Juba and resulting in over 400,000 deaths.
Though a 2018 power-sharing agreement halted the violence, critical provisions of the deal, including a new constitution, elections, and the reunification of armed groups into a single army, remain unimplemented.
Gen. Kainerugaba, known for his provocative statements on X, has previously caused diplomatic tensions with neighboring countries.
Last year, in a controversial post on his X-Platform, Mahoozi threatened to attack mercenaries in the eastern DRC, prompting the DRC to seek clarification on Uganda’s official position.
On the other hand, on December 18, 2024, Mahoozi warned to conquer Khartoum on his X-platform as soon as US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
In response, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry released a statement requesting an official apology from the Ugandan government for what it described as insulting and dangerous remarks made by Gen. Mahoozi on his X platform.
It urged the African Union and regional and international organizations to denounce these utterances, which constitute a clear threat to regional and world security and an insult to Africans. Gen. Mahoozi’s inflammatory post on X was then deleted, along with many others.