KAMPALA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military said on Thursday that the deployment of its troops in the South Sudanese capital of Juba has helped restore calm.

Chris Magezi, acting spokesperson for the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF), told Xinhua by phone that the deployment of troops in Juba and its outskirts stopped the sporadic clashes between the warring parties and facilitated an environment for political dialogue.

Earlier this month, Uganda dispatched special forces to South Sudan as tensions escalated between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, fueling fears that the East African country could slide into civil war.

"The situation is calm. Tensions are down. The purpose of this deployment is to nip it in the bud," Magezi said. "Our intervention is really meant to facilitate dialogue between the political forces within Juba, for the good of the people of South Sudan and for the entire region."

According to military authorities, the fighting and clashes threatened to unravel the power-sharing agreement and peace deal between Kiir and Machar in 2018.

"We do not wish South Sudan to get on fire like they did in 2013, and then it took five years before they could sit down to discuss and resolve their issues," said Magezi.

The military spokesperson also denied reports that the UPDF was involved in fighting and air raids in Nasir, Upper Nile State, northern South Sudan.

"Those are false reports. We haven't flown any planes into South Sudanese airspace. Those are local militia clashes, and the UPDF is not involved at all. We have (only) deployed within the Juba region and the outskirts of Juba city," Magezi added. Enditem

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