UPDF will not take sides in South Sudan-gov’t

KAMPALA: The government yesterday assured the international community that Uganda’ involvement in South Sudan under the framework of IGAD is to purposely protect its citizens and will not meddle into the politics of the country.

The Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi, at a meeting with the British High Commissioner, Alison Blackburne and Netherlands ambassador, Alphons Hennekens, said UPDF’ presence in the three week’ conflict averted loss of lives.

"From the humanitarian view we quickly went there on our own but on the second aspect we cannot take unilateral action,” Mbabazi notified the envoys.

He, reminded them that Africa’ youngest nation as ever been bedrock of Islamists [rebels] in previous years leading to independence and there was obligation to forestall such terrorism predicament-like in Somalia.

The fighting-started December 15 after a purpoted Coup’-has since descended into an ethnic conflict between President Salva Kiir’ Dinka group against former Vice President’ Dr. Riek Machar’ Nuer, amist ongoing peace talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

According to UN. agencies over 1,000 people died so far and more than 200,000 displaced.

On December 30, President Museveni travelled to Juba where he warned that either the rebels embrace the ceasefire suggested by Kiir’ government or face the wrath of the [IGAD] regional forces-and Uganda has since deployed and maintained a sizeable force.

Mr Mbabazi said, Uganda could not unilateral military action because the consequences would be disastrous.

The envoys had called the meeting to discuss Uganda’s representation on the Board of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), a multi-donor funding mechanism for democratic institutions and processes in African countries funded by the European Union, UK, and Netherlands.

They assured the Prime Minister of their commitment to fostering active dialogue on the DGF’s objectives.

The South Sudanese government on Wednesday defended the deployment of UPDF in Juba, saying Uganda [as a big brother] had an obligation to maintain peace in the region-and stop the conflict from degenerating into genocide.

The country’ ambassador, to Uganda, Samuel Lominsuk, said: “In Africa, what happens in one man’ house must be a concern for all the neighbouring homes.”

The UN agency for refugees, UNHCR says has received more than 23,546, currently hosted in the West Nile districts of Adjumani, Arua, AND Yumbe.

Side bar

Mr Mbabazi also assured the envoys that the recently passed Anti-Homosexuality Bill would be first discussed by the NRM caucus before being receiving Presidential assent.