The Ugandan army has firmly refuted allegations of deploying chemical and barrel weapons in South Sudan, following recent reports from the United Nations regarding the use of a highly flammable liquid in aerial attacks in the region. This denial comes in the wake of intensified violence in South Sudan, particularly in the Upper Nile and Jonglei states, where clashes between government forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those supporting First Vice President Riek Machar have escalated.
Uganda originally sent special forces to South Sudan in March to assist Kiir’s government amid ongoing conflict. In response to media and social media claims suggesting that the Ugandan Airforce had dropped harmful munitions, army spokesman Chris Magezi issued a statement labeling these assertions as “unsubstantiated and misleading.” He emphasized that the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF) does not possess chemical weapons or barrel bombs and lacks the capability to deploy such armaments.
The recent violence, particularly in Nasir County of the Upper Nile State, has resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties, raising alarm among international observers and humanitarian organizations. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has condemned what it describes as indiscriminate assaults on civilian populations, confirming that bombs incorporating a flammable liquid have been utilized in these attacks. UNMISS head Nicholas Haysom reported that such strikes have led to serious injuries, notably severe burns, and have displaced approximately 63,000 individuals.
Uganda’s military involvement in South Sudan is not a new phenomenon; its history in the region has often been contentious, drawing criticism from various political factions, including Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO). This party has charged that Uganda’s actions contravene a UN arms embargo, further complicating the political landscape.
Tensions escalated with Machar’s recent arrest, which poses a serious threat to the fragile 2018 peace agreement that sought to resolve a civil war that has already resulted in about 400,000 deaths. Observers fear that the situation could deteriorate further, leading to increased instability not only in South Sudan but also in the broader region.
Amid these developments, the Ugandan military has accused Machar and his supporters of waging a disinformation campaign against its presence in South Sudan, suggesting that the ongoing conflict is being exacerbated by propaganda designed to undermine the UPDF’s credibility and operational legitimacy. The volatile situation continues to unfold as both local and international stakeholders seek to address the humanitarian and political crises emerging from the continuing violence.
