June 19, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — Many Ugandans have opposed president Yoweri Museveni’s decision of taking side in an internal conflict in South Sudan. The leader of opposition in Ugandan parliament, Hon, Wafula Oguttu, has reiterated that Museveni must pull out the Ugandan troops in the neighboring South Sudan.
“Similarly our troops continue to die in South Sudan in a senseless war long after fulfilling the initial mission for provision of a safe passage for our nationals who were trapped in South Sudan when the war began.” Said Oguttu.
Hon. Oguttu, like other Ugandans, questions the costly mission of the Ugandan People Defence Forces in South Sudanese conflict. He further reiterates that it was initially a wrong idea for his country to take side and fuel the internal conflict in the newest state.
“What is the current mission of our troops in South Sudan? Who is footing the bills of that mission? Why should Uganda take sides with one protagonist in what is essentially an intra SPLM struggle, an intervention that is proving to be a stumbling block in the peace negotiations between the belligerent sides” Oguttu continued.
South Sudanese and Ugandans officials are yet to establish the Samaritans that fund the UPDF in the conflict. Initially, Uganda tried to secure funding from international community, USA in particular, but with very little success. South Sudan has acknowledged footing the bills, however, that report changes over time.
Oguttu argues that Museveni would never appreciate any similar foreign intervention in his country, if the same turmoil were to occur in his ruling party, NRM.
“We want to know whether President Yoweri Museveni would welcome a similar open intervention by another country giving material support to the side against him in the ongoing internal NRM power struggle. This is exactly what his current belligerent intervention in South Sudan amounts to.” Oguttu said.
Museveni has cited many conflicting reasons for intervening militarily, however, Dr. Machar the leader of the armed opposition, who do not blames all Ugandans but Museveni, believes that there was a conspiracy between Museveni and Salva Kiir.
“Actually more forces came as of December 13, 2013, and the conflict in South Sudan, in Juba, started on the 15, actually it tells you there was a conspiracy, a plot, done by president Salva Kiir and president Museveni, to cause the incident of the 15 December, which now has wrecked the country. The country is split, its army is split, its organized forces are split, the ruling party is split. The Salva has admitted genocide in Juba.” Machar stated.
While Museveni argues that he militarily intervened to defend an elected government, many South Sudanese critics believe that Museveni and Salva Kiir tried to establish a military regime that could have led South Sudan and reward warlords and tribal interests for many years.
“The killing of Nuer civilians in Juba was a covert conspiracy to cover up the dictatorial tendency for a regime change. Salva Kiir dressed up in military uniform to address the nation to show that from December 16, he would rule the country with an iron fist as a military president for the rest of his life” argues Charles K. Okello, a South Sudanese academician in East Africa.
Related Reports:
There Was A Conspiracy, Dr. Machar said!
South Sudan Government Facing Isolation!
Mao: Withdraw Ugandans Army(UPDF) from S.Sudan.
Dr. Machar In Kenya, Uganda Declared Itself As The Enemy!
