Ugandan parliament backs troops in South Sudan

KAMPALA – Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday endorsed the government’s decision to send troops to neighbouring war-ravaged South Sudan, with the defence minister saying the army had help avert “genocide”.

Ugandan troops deployed in South Sudan five days after fighting began last month, both to support President Salva Kiir and to help evacuate its citizens.

“That a genocide was looming in South Sudan was a reality,” Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga told parliament.

“The army in South Sudan is split. One side is on the rebels’ side and another on the government side.”

However, the initial decision to send troops across the border was made without approval of parliament, sparking criticisms from some lawmakers and prompting a special sitting of the house on Tuesday.

“We all agree the decision to deploy troops, though without approval of parliament, was a right one considering the humanitarian reasons as explained by government,” parliament speaker Rebecca Kadaga said.

No announcement was made as to how many – and for how long – troops would be deployed.

However, the defence minister said the military will have a mandate to evacuate citizens, “protect the trade route between us and South Sudan as well as engage in peace enforcement” while “maintaining neutrality” as the two sides negotiate.

Opposition leader Wafula Oguttu said sending troops had been the right decision, but that he had opposed “activities that bring to question our neutrality”.

Uganda, whose border lies less than 100km from Juba, is a major trading partner for the world’s newest state.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni last month warned rebel chief Riek Machar to sign a ceasefire or face action by regional nations.

Over 40 000 South Sudanese refugees have fled into Uganda since fighting broke out on 15 December. Up to 10 000 people are believed to have been killed in the fighting, aid sources and analysts say.

Meanwhile, more residents of South Sudan’s capital were packing up belongings and fleeing for the border with Uganda on Sunday after several hours of fierce clashes during the night, an AFP correspondent said.

Juba was rocked by heavy gunfire late on Saturday, with exchanges of automatic and heavy weapons fire heard coming from a district in the south of the city before calm returned in the early hours of the morning.

There was speculation that another army unit had defected to the rebels, although army spokesperson Philip Aguer told AFP that the government was “investigating exactly what happened” during the night.

A police spokesperson said the fighting may have been caused by “criminals trying to scare people so they can go into houses and steal”.

“The government is trying to control the situation,” the official said.

After a terrifying night sheltering in their homes, more residents could be seen trying to get transport south to Uganda, adding to the nearly 200 000 people who have already been displaced by the three-week-old conflict.

– Nampa-AFP