Opinion: Is the UPDF Act even “active” or is it just “guidance”

40. Agreement relating to deployment of troops outside Uganda

Where troops are to be deployed outside Uganda under a multilateral or bilateral arrangement with other countries, the Minister shall enter into an agreement, in this section referred to as a Status of Forces Agreement with the host country or organisation” (UPDF Act, 2005).

The UPDF acted decisively on the request of the government of South Sudan to avert a dangerously developing situation and deployed forces accordingly. This action is also in the interest of regional security. The Hon Minister of Defence is never involved in the operational matters of UPDF. His job is simply to represent us in Parliament” (…) “The Hon. Minister will in due course be brought up to speed with the relevant details of our role in the fast unfolding security situation of our crucial ally and northern neighbor. It was important for the UPDF to act with expediency to contain the situation” (Col. Chris Magezi, 12.03.2025).

There is a need for clarification and a need for enlightenment in regards to the Uganda People’s Defence Force and the Uganda People’s Defence Force Act of 2005. As the UPDF Act, which we know seems to be long lost file. An ancient scroll and a relief of the past. Why do I say that in 2025?

Well, no one adheres to it and abides by it. The texts and the laws that is coded in the UPDF Act is meaningless and pointless. The Commander of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga is living beyond its merits and we know others are toying around with it to. Now ones of their own is saying the Minister of Defence is just a puppet and a face of the UPDF. Not that he has any sort of role or oversight. Meanwhile, the Article 40 of the UPDF Act says he does has power and influence over the army itself. Therefore, something got to give.

This here all steams over the “Silent Guardian” Operation in South Sudan that came into force earlier this week. That was never announced or was informed. Neither was there any revelation or any sort of publication. Seemingly, the Minister of Defence got the news as the General tweeted about the matter the other day. Just like the rest of us. Meanwhile, we know his supposed to go into an agreement with the respective nation. Alas, that never happened and the CDF or the High Command did so without his knowledge. That shows the institutions and personification of state is the most valuable assets of Republic.

The Minister of Defence is bound by law to have a say in an Operation of the UPDF. The deployment is supposed to go by him and an agreement shall be entered by him. So, this Colonel clearly haven’t read the UPDF Act or think it is a worthless document. We know the General thinks so and he is spitting on it on a regular basis. Now the UPDF just shows lawfulness and righteousness is beneath the army.

The National Army has other structures and command, which are more supreme than the UPDF Act. That’s why the Minister is just a mere representative and not a head of sorts. No, the civilian in the Parliament aren’t supposed to dictate or any word in it. However, the UPDF act says he “shall enter into an agreement”. That’s where the problem is and where the UPDF is failing at its core. They are just showing how they disregard code and protocol, by jumping over the Minister and mocking his role.

We are all seeing it and the display isn’t even that wise about it either. It is a forewarning about the consolidation of power and what a few heads are allowed to do. As they are not following print or procedure. They only acts on whims and instinct. These people cannot even address the matters or adhere to laws binding them. That’s why people should be worried. When the army is acting above it all and thinks it is justified to be so. That’s memo here.

The gist isn’t any good, but a compelling one regardless, as we all see what they do. The UPDF Act is history and it has been made irrelevant in front of our eyes. Peace.

South Sudan: Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) – Update on the Ongoing Arrest of Senior SPLM/SPLA(IO) Members by the SSPDF and National Security Forces (12.03.2025)

Ethiopia: Is this the start of violent clashes between the TPLF-G and TPLF-D?

Today the bad news from Mekelle and Tigray region is out. The revelation that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) internal conflict is now lethal. The match of supremacy between the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) under Getachew Reda and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) run by Debretsion Gebremichael. These two are the heads that are behind this and are conflicted.

It is all a power struggle between these two gentlemen. Two men who wants to rule and have the final say. Now the TPLF-D is saying it is reacting on the letters sent by Getachew Reda dismissing three army commanders within the Tigray Defence Force (TDF). Now the same TDF is used by TPLF-D to takeover and use force to take control. Therefore, the rebellion from within and the reaction is all violently against the one who is officially the head of the regional state. As his there temporarily after the Pretoria Agreement. An Agreement that the TPLF accepted with the Federal Government. Alas, therein lays the problem and the headache for all parties, as the accord or agreement is far from implemented and isn’t moving forward as we speak.

TIRA itself has stated this is in a Press Release today:

It is known that since January 15, 2017, some senior commanders of the Tigray army have been moving to carry out an open coup d’etat to satisfy the thirst for power of a narrow group.

Similarly, illegal activities led by the commanders of the Northeast and South Fronts have intensified this week. Despite an order written to the Commander-in-Chief of the Tigray Army on February 26, 2017 to curb this dangerous road and stop all illegal activities, the act of destruction has continued for hours. The situation has not been resolved and the commanders of the fronts have been banned by the government. The head of the security bureau was also relieved of his duties.

However, attacks targeting civilians continue. The acts of dismantling the government from top to bottom continue to intensify. The top commanders of the Tigray army are bringing the people of Tigray into another destruction by dissolving the government and officially violating the Pretoria Treaty in order to fulfill the wishes of the backward group” (Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau, 12.03.2025).

The TIRA and Getachew Reda is dismissing the TPLF-D at this very moment. It is severe and isn’t subtle about it either. The TPLF-D on the other hand is calling Getachew Reda a “Former President” and says his authority is illegitimate. They are also claiming his bans and such lacks the power to make decisions, which means the law enforcement operations lays in the TPLF-D. It also warns that the TPLF-D will uncover and reveal the criminal activities and the ones implicated in TIRA for any wrongdoings. Therefore, there is consequences to this and this time it is personal.

These leaders are now butting heads and they are deciding the fate with the usage of force from within. What we know for now is that Adigrat is ceased and taken control of the TPLF-D. We don’t know what else is at play or stakes, as there is speculations in the air. There is also rumours and inklings of Eritrean support of one side, but that is to early to call. Meanwhile, the TPLF-D claims TIRA has done treason to region and therefore is justified to overthrow it.

This just shows how fickle things is and what these leaders are willing to do. They are now waging war and doing so in violation of the Pretoria accord, the one accord that is giving it peace and stopped the hostilities, even if the Eritrean armies didn’t leave parts of the region and neither did Fano. However, that doesn’t stop realities from hitting the ground. This could be an excuse for Abiy to return with a new Operation Law Enforcement in Tigray. We could see that one coming and this to install Getachew Reda again. That wouldn’t surprise me… but that is how cold and calculated these things are. Peace.

Ethiopia: Statement from the Alliance of Tigrayans for National Redemption (ATNR) – Urgent Call for Address the Unlawful Power Grab and Regional Destabilization in Tigray (12.03.2025)

South Sudan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Response to Travel Advisories Issued by Some Countries in Regards to the Nasir Incident (12.03.2025)

DRC: A New Ugandan Proxy-Militia is formed to “liberate Ituri”

The rebel and former prisoner of ICC, Thomas Lubanga has returned with support of Kampala to make his own proxy militia and rebel group to liberate the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Convention pour la libération populaire (CRP) is created and manifested in Kampala, as all documents suggested. Meaning this in coordination and vouched for by the government of Uganda. As they are seeing it as a viable enterprise.

Now the former militia leader who was charged and sentenced for the usage of child soldiers in the DRC in 2002-2003 is returning to the nation. Now with a new recalibrated outfit and with outside support, as his allowed and acts as a proxy. That isn’t even clever, but it shows the activity and the will of Kampala to interfere in the DRC.

The UPDF is claiming to fight the ADF, but now they are visibly supporting another rebellion in the DRC. That is compelling and with a usage of a man who has such a record to do it to.

This CRP brings together 7 armed groups for one mission and that’s to “liberate Ituri”. We all know what means and this is a travesty. This is taking the region and the resources as spoils of war. That’s what this is all about. It is investing in militias to ensure the power and the guns to bring the valuables across the border to Uganda. That’s all that matters.

This is the gist and this is tragic. We are seeing another formation to destroy, deplete and to take from the DRC. Kinshasa should be watching as there is betrayals and there are proxies that are lurking. Now another one is formed, and the outsiders are jolly of their easy spoils. Peace.

RDC: Forces Armees Republique Democratique du Congo (FARDC) – Communique de Presse No. 008 (11.03.2025)

RDC: Le Collectif Sauvons le Congo (COSACO) – Communique de Presse No. 002 (11.03.2025)

South Sudan: “The Silent Guardian” have arrived [The UPDF to aide SSPDF]

The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) have started their ‘Mlinzi wa Kimya’ which means “The Silent Guardian” to support the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF). That means the UPDF comes to help the J1 again and done so in the past too.

The people of Juba and South Sudan should know about this, as the UPDF will again be part of the SSPDF. That will be done to further the cause of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, as SKM is an ally of President Museveni. Those to are aligned and that’s why UPDF have come when Juba needs it. Therefore, this operation is continuation of previous ones.

They will now come to the answer of Kiir and save his reign. The tensions of Juba and the troubling times are now being saved by UPDF. That is what Kiir does by having the UPDF as a mercenary army to save his grace. His Excellency is now saved by Ugandans and their troops.

It really rich that the Commander of Defence Force of the UPDF, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga calls them the “peacekeepers” or “caped crusaders”. As they are coming in to save the day. They are there to save President Kiir and give him political capital. That is going on as the J1 has gone after IO and Riek Machar for the failure of containing and being able to stifle the progress of the Naath White Army. Therefore, it is a really bad when Muhoozi has to come in “peace” and deliver “war”.

The UPDF won’t be silent but be loud. We can wonder if the caped crusader and the Batman will show up as well, since they called themselves “The Silent Guardian”. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga has already stated that the Special Forces came and now the troops are coming in addition. Therefore, the UPDF is there for a sole mission of safeguarding Kiir and his Transitional Government.

The Naath White Army should be concerned now, as they will meet the UPDF, and they don’t hold no grudges. They are here solely to silence them and doesn’t care about the aftermath. As they are fleeing after the fact. The UPDF is there to finish what President Kiir cannot manage to do, as the crisis are internally squabbling things up in the SSPDF and the UPDF will follow the needs blindly. That’s why the President Kiir is calling them to help himself out.

Now the “peacekeepers” are here. Nasir County and the Upper Nile State should be aware. Because the UPDF would most likely go there and do the bidding of the state to silence it. That’s why they are deployed and have this operation in South Sudan to begin with. Peace.

Mali: Front de Liberation de l’Azawad (F.L.A) – Communique Final relatif a la Tenue de la Premiere Session Ordinaire du Bureau Executif No. 006 (09.03.2025)