Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has called on the Parliament leadership to urgently facilitate a government briefing on Uganda’s military involvement in the ongoing wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Ssemujju expressed concern over the lack of official updates on the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) operations, leaving MPs to rely heavily on media reports for information.
The outspoken legislator raised these concerns in Parliament following growing reports about a senior UPDF officer succumbing to combat injuries and another that claimed UPDF was using chemical weapons in South Sudan.
"Our army is executing two wars, in DR Congo and in South Sudan, and reports continue to flood the media," Ssemujju said.
"We need official briefings from the government. We can’t continue relying on the mercy of the media for updates on these critical military operations," the FDC-cum-PFF legislator said, emphasizing the need for Parliament to be kept informed.
Ssemujju’s comments come amidst fresh allegations that UPDF may have used chemical incendiary weapons during airstrikes in Nasir, South Sudan, on March 24.
The NGO World Without War on March 24 condemned the attacks, citing witness reports and images that suggested the use of ethyl acetate, a flammable industrial chemical.
The attacks, which targeted civilian areas in the Upper Nile state, have raised serious concerns about the potential for escalating the conflict and violating international law.
Edward H. Carpenter, director of World Without War, warned that such actions could be considered war crimes.
“This is not just an escalation—it’s a potential war crime,” Carpenter said.
“Such attacks risk reigniting full-scale conflict and could undermine peace efforts by the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), of which Uganda is a member.”
The UPDF has faced criticism for deploying troops in South Sudan without prior approval from Parliament, a move reminiscent of its controversial actions in DR Congo in 2022.
In both instances, the UPDF acted unilaterally, without seeking formal endorsement from the legislative body, which has led to concerns over the erosion of parliamentary oversight and the potential for unchecked military intervention.
These deployments raise significant questions about Uganda's adherence to constitutional procedures when committing forces to foreign conflicts, as MPs and the public have repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability in such decisions.
The UPDF have not officially commented on the allegations amid hostilities by South Sudanese since their incursion on March 10.
On Tuesday, South Sudan First Vice-President Riek Machar wrote to the United Nations seeking its intervention in compelling the UPDF to withdraw from the restive nation.
Machar has since been placed under house arrest in the capital Juba, further exacerbating the tension in the world's youngest nation.
The controversy surrounding Uganda’s involvement in South Sudan’s conflict has added fuel to the fire, with concerns growing about the country's military tactics and their potential long-term impact on regional stability.
In a separate development, violence erupted during the recent Kawempe North by-election, where security forces were accused of brutality towards opposition supporters and journalists.
Lwemiyaga County MP, Theodore Ssekikubo, questioned whether the UPDF had infiltrators acting outside the command of the President, following reports of unprovoked attacks on civilians.
In response to the incidents, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lieutenant-General Sam Okiding, apologized for the violence.
He attributed the actions to “operational mistakes” and acknowledged that such conduct was against the army’s doctrine.
"Those were operational mistakes that occurred out of provocation. It is not our doctrine, but among 1,000 soldiers, there will always be those who struggle to control their patience. However, their reaction did not warrant such a degree of force," he said.
Okiding assured Parliament that a disciplinary committee had been set up, and some soldiers involved in the violence had already been arrested.
"We have taken action, and some of the personnel involved have been apprehended. A committee has been constituted to carry out investigations," Okiding said, emphasising that the UPDF does not condone such actions, which do not align with its values or operational guidelines.
The violence during the by-election, which saw journalists assaulted and opposition supporters targeted by security forces, sparked widespread condemnation.
Many media outlets imposed a self-imposed blackout on reporting military and police activities in the aftermath, citing concerns over safety and press freedom in the country.
The continued calls for transparency over Uganda’s military operations and the recent election violence underscore the need for greater accountability from the UPDF.
As MPs continue to push for Government briefings, the broader public remains concerned about the conduct of the military and the protection of fundamental rights, including press freedom.