The state minister for Defence Major General Jeje Odongo has denied any double payment to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces currently on operation in South Sudan.

Shortly after his closed door meeting with the Parliamentary committee meeting on defence and Internal affairs, Odongo stressed that the expenditures on the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) since the 19th of December last year are met by the Uganda government and not South Sudan.

Some critics especially from the political opposition have been urging that the government of south Sudan has been facilitating the UPDF operations.

Basing on the addendum to the status of Forces Agreement explained to the committee today, the shadow Minister for Defence Hassan kaps Fungaroo says that it is unfortunate that government of Uganda continues to demand for monies for the UPDF operations in the neighboring Country.

However the minister clarified that the government of South Sudan only agreed to meet the fuel cost of the UPDF vehicles and coppers. Odongo added that Uganda government pays for the rest of the operation because of the country’s security and economic interests.