KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has strongly rebutted a recent United Nations report that appears to have criticized its military presence in South Sudan, insisting the operation is lawful, welcomed by the local population, and has been instrumental in preventing mass atrocities.
In a press release issued on Monday, the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) labelled the findings of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, published on 27 February 2026, as incomplete, while simultaneously accusing international media of biased reporting.
“The current UPDF operation in South Sudan is completely legitimate,” stated Colonel, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information. The statement emphasized that the deployment was conducted at the formal invitation of South Sudan’s sovereign government and was subsequently ratified by the Parliament of Uganda.
A central pillar of Uganda’s defense is its assertion of professional conduct. The military forcefully rejected any allegations of wrongdoing against civilians. “UPDF has NEVER targeted civilians in its 45-year cherished history, that is why it is extremely popular with the people wherever it operates,” the statement read, pivoting to a narrative of a protecting force rather than an occupying one.
The Ugandan government contends that the intervention has had tangible security benefits. According to the release, UPDF operations prevented what it described as “internecine fighting in Juba” and were critical in halting atrocities committed by the so-called ‘White Army’ militia against the civilian population. The statement highlighted Uganda’s long-standing role in regional security, citing previous successful missions in Somalia and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as evidence of its peace support credentials.
The strongly worded response signals a deepening rift between Kampala and the UN over the handling of the volatile situation in South Sudan. Uganda accused the UN commission of failing to be “exhaustive” in its investigation and claimed that the resultant media coverage ignored Uganda’s official positions, which it says have been repeatedly communicated to the United Nations.
While the specific findings of the UN report were not detailed in the press release, Uganda’s rebuttal suggests the document raised concerns about the conduct or impact of foreign forces in the region.
Kampala maintains that its ultimate objective in South Sudan remains the facilitation of political dialogue, the prevention of widespread violence, and the securing of regional stability. The response from the MoDVA makes it clear that Uganda views its military role not as a point of contention, but as a necessary bulwark against further chaos in its northern neighbor.
