Relationship dossier
Sudan
Uganda
Relationship assessment
A history of reciprocal security accusations alongside later diplomatic engagement
Sudan toward Uganda
-15Sudan was accused of supporting the Lord’s Resistance Army, which fought the Ugandan government. That alleged backing contributed to serious bilateral security tensions.
Uganda toward Sudan
-15Uganda supported the Sudan People’s Liberation Army during Sudan’s civil war, opposing the Sudanese government’s military campaign. Uganda later engaged with Sudanese political and military figures, including hosting Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo in 2023.
Overall relationship
-10The relationship has been shaped by reciprocal security disputes during Sudan’s civil war and Uganda’s conflict with the Lord’s Resistance Army, followed by diplomatic engagement. These contrasting features make the bilateral relationship mixed, with a substantial legacy of mistrust.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Sudan–Uganda relations have combined security disputes with periods of diplomatic engagement. During Sudan’s civil war, Uganda supported the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, while Sudan was accused of backing the Lord’s Resistance Army against Uganda. Relations later improved, but Uganda’s engagement with Sudanese rival factions has remained sensitive.
Areas of tension
- Sudanese allegations of Ugandan support for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army during the civil war
- Ugandan allegations that Sudan supported the Lord’s Resistance Army
- Uganda’s engagement with Sudanese rival factions, including the Rapid Support Forces
Key developments
Uganda supported the Sudan People’s Liberation Army during Sudan’s civil war, while Sudan was accused of backing the Lord’s Resistance Army against Uganda.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni hosted Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo during his visit to Uganda.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and implementation of later security and diplomatic cooperation are unclear.
- The longer-term effect of Uganda’s engagement with Sudanese rival factions on bilateral relations is uncertain.