South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, requested the deployment of Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) soldiers in response to security threats in the newly formed country.
The deployment followed clashes in the northern town of Nasir, where dozens of South Sudanese soldiers and a general were killed. The conflict involved the South Sudanese army and the White Army militia, which President Kiir has linked to First Vice President Riek Machar.
On January 10, 2014, Uganda and South Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation and the Status of Forces Agreement regarding the deployment of UPDF forces in South Sudan.
According to Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Oboth Marksons Jacobs, Uganda agreed to deploy its forces if security developments in South Sudan posed serious threats to Uganda’s stability, with potential regional and continental implications.
“On March 10, 2025, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding, President Salva Kiir formally requested President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda to provide urgent military support to prevent a potential security catastrophe in South Sudan,” Oboth stated.
Following this request, President Museveni authorized the deployment of UPDF troops to South Sudan to help stabilize security, enforce peace, protect lives, and prevent further escalation of conflict.
The Ugandan government emphasized that past deployments of UPDF forces in South Sudan have contributed to security stabilization and will continue to do so. The presence of Ugandan forces is seen as beneficial not only to South Sudan but also to Uganda, the region, and Africa as a whole.
“Therefore, be it resolved that the Parliament of Uganda supports the deployment of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces in South Sudan under the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation and the Status of Forces Agreement between the two nations,” Oboth said.
