Uganda promotes commander of S. Sudan operations
February 9, 2014 (KAMPALA) – Kayanja Muhanga, the overall commander of Ugandan army (UPDF) operations in South Sudan has been promoted from a Colonel to Brigadier.
The Ugandan army spokesperson, Lt. Col Paddy Ankunda confirmed the promotion of the ex-military police boss, saying he fully deserved it.
“The Task Force Commander, Zulu Task Force, in South Sudan formerly Colonel Kayanja Muhanga [has been] promoted to Brigadier,” Lt. Col. Ankunda said Sunday.
A close ally of South Sudan, Uganda is militarily involved alongside South Sudanese army (SPLA) as they try to gain full control of areas previously occupied by rebels loyal to its ex-vice president Riek Machar.
Both Uganda and South Sudan, at the behest of the latter, also signed a status of forces agreement, which allow legally, allows the UPDF to participate in the conflict.
Machar has demanded complete withdrawal of Ugandan forces from South Sudan, saying it was interfering in its internal matters.
The United States, despite earlier warning from the United Nations Security Council, on Friday called for the complete withdrawal of foreign troops operating in South Sudan.
Their involvement in the conflict, it says, contravenes the cessations of hostilities agreement signed by South Sudan’s warring parties in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last month.
Intense fighting, which initially started in the capital, Juba spread to other parts of the country, killing over 1,000 people and displacing nearly a million.
(ST)