Uganda has deployed special forces in South Sudan's capital Juba to "secure it", Uganda's military chief said on Tuesday, but South Sudan's information minister denied the presence of troops, as tensions between South Sudan's president and first vice president stoke fears of a return to war.

Uganda has deployed an unknown number of troops to South Sudan in a bid to protect the fragile government of President Salva Kiir as a tense rivalry with his deputy threatens a return to civil war in the east African nation.

Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary caucus has endorsed the deployment of Ugandan troops

South Sudan's government has denied earlier reports that Uganda had deployed special forces to its capital, Juba. Uganda's military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the soldiers had gone to the neighbouring country to help South Sudanese President Salva Kiir "secure" the city.

South Sudanese and Ugandan lawmakers have expressed concerns over the deployment of Ugandan troops to South Sudan without parliamentary knowledge or approval, citing constitutional and financial implications.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) also first son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has said that Uganda has deployed special forces in South Sudan’s capital Juba to “secure it” as tensions between President Salva Kiir and his First Vice President Riek Machar stoke fears of a return to civil war.

Ugandan special forces have been deployed to South Sudan's capital Juba, the Ugandan army chief said Tuesday, after rising tensions threatened a fragile peace agreement between President Salva Kiir

The situation in South Sudan is fragile and getting worse, with growing political and military instability. The claims made by the information minister do not reflect the reality on the ground.