Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni and the Chief of Defense Forces General Katumba Wamala do not seem to be on the same page in regard to the war in South Sudan, and the deployment of the army if their recent public statements are something to go by.

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During a special parliament sitting called to discuss the army’s deployment in now conflict hit South Sudan on Tuesday, General Katumba labored to explain and convince the house that UPDF was only deployed in the neighboring country for humanitarian reasons that included rescuing Ugandans.

While he was making his point, president Yoweri Museveni who was in the Angolan capital Luanda attending the 5th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Great Lakes Regionon Peace and Security opened a Pandora’s box of sorts when he for the first time confirmed that Ugandan troops are fighting alongside South Sudanese government forces against rebels.

President Museveni’s remarks were a contradiction of what General Katumba told the house.

That was not the only information flow gaffe. Army spokesman Col. Paddy Ankunda had told Ugandans that reports of UDPF soldiers perishing in the conflict were just a hoax.

However, at the same summit, president Museveni also admitted that the national army had suffered some fatalities in the conflict.

These developments have left many political pundits bemused and asking whether there is a coordinated dissemination of information in the echelons of power.