The Uganda Peoples defense forces, UPDF says they will not deploy in South Sudan as fresh fighting breaks out in Africa’s youngest country.
Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, the UPDF spokesperson says the war in south Sudan is a political one which does not call for military intervention.
Rumor has been making rounds on social media that Uganda’s military has again been deployed in the volatile state to bring calm like in the past, but Ankunda says all these are lies.
“I have been hearing rumors UPDF has deployed in South Sudan. We don't have even a single soldier there. We're concerned about the situation in South Sudan, given likely repercussions, but that's all. We're not deployed there” says Ankunda.
Col. Ankunda however says UPDF will only deploy in South Sudan only if they receive an official request from the South Sudanese government. “Uganda will only deploy in South Sudan upon official request from the government there.”
Ankunda was this morning appearing on NBS TV for an interview on the fresh fighting that has broken out in South Sudan leading to the death of over 270 people.
He explains that Uganda has only deployed its forces at the Sudan border to protect what he terms as “intergrity of our border.”
Forces loyal to Vice-President Riek Machar say government troops supporting President Salva Kiir attacked their positions in the capital, Juba.
Reports however indicate that the city was now under full control and civilians who had fled should return to their homes.
