A top US senator pushing for sanctions against Museveni says Uganda is now an exporter of brutality after a UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan accused Uganda of assisting the Salva Kiir government to conduct airstrikes in which civilians perished.
The UN report accused Kampala and Juba of bombarding targeted civilian-populated areas predominantly affecting Nuer communities in opposition-affiliated areas.
The report, released last month, says the UPDF helped President Salva Kiir’s government carry out aerial strikes that killed and badly burned civilians in opposition areas.
UPDF was deployed in March 2025 to bolster South Sudanese army’s efforts to fight the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) faction of jailed First Vice President Dr Riek Machar. President Kiir suspended Machar, a long time bitter rival.
“Last March, the President declared South Sudan would not return to war. To the contrary, we have seen an alarming regression. Government forces have since carried out widespread and systematic attacks against civilians, including unlawful killings, indiscriminate, disproportionate aerial bombardment of civilian homes and medical facilities in violation of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution under international humanitarian law,” said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission
The report cites Uganda’s assistance as intensifying the conflict in South Sudan and of targeting civilians belonging to Machar’s tribe.
“External military intervention and aerial bombardments intensified the conflict amid regional escalation. The deployment of forces from Uganda, a Revitalized Agreement guarantor, materially strengthened SPLM-IG,” the report read in part.
“Joint aerial bombardments by Ugandan People’s Defence Forces and South Sudan People’s Defence Forces targeted civilian-populated areas, predominantly affecting Nuer communities in opposition-affiliated areas. Illegitimate attempts to amend and circumvent the Revitalized Agreement introduced further political, security and economic risks, including political, military and economic entanglement in the armed conflict in Sudan.”
The report further noted that from 16 March 2025, aircraft bombarded Nasir, Longochuk and Ulang counties, and that “witnesses detailed repeated attacks killing and maiming civilians, including children suffering severe burns consistent with incendiary bombs.”
Ugandan first son and military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s statements were also used to beef up the report linking Ugandan soldiers to crimes in South Sudan.
“Public statements, including posts to X by the Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces, indicated Ugandan air support and explicitly incited violence against Nuer populations. Nasir Town emptied, with many residents fleeing into Ethiopia,” the report read.
The report also talked of Ugandan weapons and aircraft being used in South Sudan. It said that South Sudan People’s Defence Forces possess several Mi-24 attack helicopters and also deploy fixed-wing aircraft, adding that “a United Nations Panel of Experts observed Bell 412 helicopters armed with rocket pods in conflict zones in 2025 [and that] the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces acknowledged operating these and other aircraft in South Sudan during 2025, noting it ‘endeavours to isolate and destroy only military targets.’”
Reports of drones used could not be independently verified. The deployment of multiple aircraft in coordination with ground forces indicates high degrees of planning, operational integration and command-level authorisation.
“Flight tracking data shows a Cessna Caravan plane circling during the bombing, after departing from Juba. The aircraft had arrived that afternoon from Uganda, operated by Ugandan People’s Defence Forces. The presence of additional aircraft during the attack could not be excluded. On 25 March 2025, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces publicly declared its forces had bombed SPLM/A-IO, and issued threats directed at the Nuer population. On 28 March 2025, Uganda’s Ministry for Defence and Veteran Affairs issued a statement asserting that its air force “does not attack civilians” nor possess “chemical weapons and barrel bombs.” UN report
Reacting to the report, US senate foreign relations chairman Senator Jim Risch, a republican representing Idaho, called on the Trump administration to reassess Washington’s relations with Kampala.
“Uganda has shifted from a reliable security partner to an exporter of brutality. This evidence should kickstart a reassessment of our bilateral relationship,” wrote Senator Risch.
“The Admin has implemented serious repercussions for those committing atrocities in South Sudan and this is no different.”
Winnie Byanyima, wife of incarcerated opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, has welcomed Risch’s views on the matter, calling on partner states not to turn blind eye on human rights violations.
“Thank you, Senate Foreign Relations Committee for raising these concerns. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has himself publicly boasted about UPDF brutality against South Sudanese civilians cited in the UN report. There is no denial,” Byanyima wrote.
“He has also repeatedly bragged about violence against Ugandan citizens including women, and issued death threats against opposition leaders Dr Kizza Besigye and Bobi Wine.”
This US senator is also pushing the Trump administration to punish Museveni and Muhoozi over Bobi Wine even as the opposition leader’s international lawyer calls for Uganda’s suspension from the Commonwealth organization. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
Still in the East African region, the Trump administration has sanctioned the Rwandan army and top military officials, and imposed visa restrictions on top government officials, prompting President Paul Kagame to explain the impossible choice that Rwanda faces. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
