Uganda Rejects UN Allegations Over Airstrikes in South Sudan

Uganda has rejected accusations from a United Nations investigation alleging that its troops assisted South Sudanese forces in carrying out airstrikes that killed and injured civilians last year.

A report by the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan stated that joint aerial bombardments by South Sudan’s military and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) struck civilian-populated areas, particularly communities linked to the Nuer ethnic group, which is often associated with opposition forces.

Uganda’s defence ministry dismissed the allegations, saying the UN report was incomplete and inaccurate, and stressing that Ugandan troops deployed in South Sudan have helped prevent further violence and protect civilians.

“UPDF has never targeted civilians in its 45-year history,” the ministry said in a statement, reaffirming that the mission in South Sudan is carried out legally under a bilateral security agreement with the government in Juba.

The UN report cited a March 2025 attack near Wunaliet, close to the capital Juba, where aircraft reportedly dropped incendiary containers that ignited homes. Witnesses told investigators that several civilians were severely burned during the incident.

Ugandan military officials continue to deny participating in direct combat operations involving such weapons and have also rejected accusations of using chemical weapons or barrel bombs, maintaining that their forces operate strictly within the framework of regional security cooperation.

Source: Newstimehub