President Yoweri Museveni has arrived in South Sudan today, following an invitation from his counterpart, President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

In a statement posted on X, Museveni said he looked forward to discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between the two nations.

“I look forward to our discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between our two nations,” he said.

The visit comes at a time of rising tensions between President Kiir and his First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar, who is currently under house arrest. The South Sudanese government has accused Machar of planning a rebellion to destabilise the country.

Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth, informed parliament that on March 10, South Sudan’s President Kiir urgently requested military support from Museveni to prevent a potential security crisis. Following this, the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) was deployed for a peace enforcement mission.

The minister added that Museveni’s decision was aligned with Uganda’s values of patriotism, nationalism, and Pan-Africanism.