KAMPALA, UGANDA: 10 March 2026– The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has issued a firm rebuttal to a recent United Nations report, defending its military presence in South Sudan as a lawful mission that has saved lives and stabilized the region.
This follows a UN Commission report which jointly indicted Uganda and South Sudan over human rights violations citing aerial bombardments that “targeted civilian-populated areas predominantly affecting Nuer communities in opposition-affiliated areas,”
In a press statement released Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs addressed findings from the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, published in late February. The UPDF dismissed the report and subsequent media coverage as “biased,” claiming they fail to account for Uganda’s official positions and the ground reality of the conflict.
Legitimacy and Sovereign Invitation
Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, emphasized that the UPDF’s deployment was not unilateral. According to the statement, the mission was: Invited by the sovereign government of South Sudan, Approved by the Parliament of Uganda, and Aimed at preventing internecine fighting in the capital, Juba.
“The current UPDF operation in South Sudan is completely legitimate,” the statement read, adding that the force’s intervention effectively halted atrocities committed by the “White Army” against local populations.
Denial of Civilian Targeting
Responding to allegations of rights violations, the military spokesperson maintained that the UPDF has a “45-year cherished history” of never targeting civilians. The Ministry asserted that this track record has made the Ugandan forces “extremely popular” in the various regions where they operate, including Somalia and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Regional Stability Over “Biased” Reporting
The UPDF criticized the UN’s findings for being “not exhaustive” and accused the media of ignoring Uganda’s strategic objectives in the region. The Ministry reaffirmed that its involvement is built on three pillars: Continued political dialogue between warring parties Prevention of widespread violence, and Securing regional stability.
The statement concludes by reinforcing that the UPDF remains committed to peace support operations, despite the international scrutiny leveled by the UN Commission.