Uganda not to withdraw troops from South Sudan soon

The Ugandan government on Thursday said it will not heed to foreign pressure to withdraw its troops from neighboring South Sudan until both national and regional security is guaranteed. Rose Namayanja, minister of information and national guidance, told reporters here that a call by Norway for Uganda to withdraw its troops in South Sudan is not feasible. "These are matters of peace and security within the region and for us as country it is not the first time that we are having some of our development partners not looking at matters of security as priority," she said. "For us as government, security is key and therefore we shall not heed the advice by the Norwegian government in as far as issues of security of our country and the neighborhood are concerned," she added. Norway, a major donor to South Sudan, on Wednesday urged Uganda to start withdrawing troops to avoid worsening the crisis that has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands made homeless. Ugandan troops are backing the South Sudan army to fight rebels headed by former vice president Riek Machar. Uganda's Minister of Defense Crispus Kiyonga on Wednesday said Uganda deployed its troops as a measure to prevent a possible genocide. The army also said it deployed the troops at the invitation of the government of South Sudan.