The Ugandan Parliament has approved the deployment of Ugandan Forces in South Sudan in a bid to restore peace and stability, despite objections by Ugandan legislators.

The Ugandan Parliament was recalled for a special session yesterday to debate a motion tabled by Defense Minister Cyprus Kiyonga.

Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi told the media that UPDF soldiers will leave South Sudan when stability is restored in the country.

“Of course we will have no reason to stay in the Republic of South Sudan; we will come out as soon as these conditions have been restored.”

The decision to deploy Ugandan soldiers in South Sudan was supported by 80% of MPs belonging to the ruling National Resistance Party.

However, opposition MPs have argued that the move is unconstitutional.

MP Medard Ssegona said the role of the army is to preserve and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, not of South Sudan.

“A lot has been talked about with fantasy regarding our role in assisting neighbors, the Africanization, the Pan-Africanism etc, but we have a Constitution that we must not depart from, our duty, and I repeat with support is to protect Ugandans wherever they are, get them out, let the South Sudanese people sort their problems by themselves,” argued Mr Ssegona.

The Ugandan Defense Minister, Cyprus Kiyonga, said President Yoweri Museveni had taken a unilateral decision to deploy UPDF troops in accordance with the UPDF code.

It allows the army to be deployed for peacekeeping or peace enforcement purposes and to later seek authority from Parliament in case of an emergency.