South Sudan denies Muhoozi's claim of deploying in Juba

On 11th March 2025, Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced that Uganda had sent special forces to South Sudan’s capital, Juba. He said the troops were deployed to assist President Salva Kiir due to rising tensions with Vice President Riek Machar, which had sparked fears of another civil war.

However, South Sudanese officials denied this claim. Information Minister Michael Makuei stated that no Ugandan troops had been deployed in Juba. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson for the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), also dismissed the reports, insisting that there were no foreign soldiers in South Sudan.

Back in Uganda, the news caused a lot of discussions. Defence Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth said he was unaware of any deployment and had not attended any meetings to approve it. He asked for time to confirm the information and stressed that such matters should be communicated formally instead of being spread through social media.

The legality of the deployment was also questioned in Parliament. Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda pointed out that sending troops abroad needs parliamentary approval as required by the UPDF Act 2005. He criticized any deployment made without this process, calling it unlawful.

Meanwhile, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus decided to support the deployment of Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) to South Sudan. This decision was made during a private meeting at State House Entebbe, where President Yoweri Museveni informed the members about the situation.

The NRM Caucus said the military intervention was necessary to maintain peace, protect people, and stop further violence in South Sudan. They highlighted Uganda’s past efforts to ensure regional stability and noted that President Salva Kiir had asked President Museveni for urgent assistance.

Even though the NRM Caucus approved the deployment, the Ugandan Parliament has not yet officially authorized it. The mixed statements from different leaders have made the situation more controversial, with ongoing debate about whether the Ugandan forces are actually in South Sudan.