President Museveni has dismissed international media reports that Uganda’s military presence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was aimed at fighting the M23 rebels.
The clarification comes after a report by Al Jazeera suggested that Uganda had deployed troops to assist the Congolese government in its battle against M23.
But Mr Museveni strongly denied these assertions, emphasising that Uganda’s military presence had a different mandate.
According to the President, Uganda’s involvement in DR Congo began four years ago when the Congolese government, under President Felix Tshisekedi, accepted Kampala’s offer to help combat the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a violent group responsible for killing Ugandan and Congolese citizens.
Mr Museveni expressed satisfaction with the cooperation, stating, “We were very happy for H.E Tshisekedi to do this, and it has helped the Congolese citizens in the area. They have gone back to their villages, and the Ugandans are no longer being killed.”
Initially, Uganda’s mission focused solely on countering the ADF, which had been operating in the region for more than 20 years.
Along the way, Uganda’s military took on additional tasks, including securing the Kasindi-Beni-Butembo Road and participating in the East African Force tasked with separating the M23 fighters from the Congolese army along critical routes.
However, following the expulsion of the East African Force by the Congolese government, Uganda remained focused on its original objectives—fighting the ADF and safeguarding the region’s infrastructure.
Museveni made it clear that Uganda’s troops were not involved in the fight against M23 rebels.
“Our presence in Congo, therefore, has nothing to do with fighting the M23 rebels,” he stated.
He further explained that Uganda has consistently advocated for dialogue between the Congolese government and the M23 to resolve the conflict peacefully.
“The solutions are there,” Museveni said, referencing ongoing efforts by the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate peace.
This clarification comes amid mounting questions surrounding Uganda’s evolving role in the volatile region.
While Uganda’s military has been focused on counterterrorism and protecting infrastructure, the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has repeatedly expressed moral support for the M23 cause on social media.
Additionally, Muhoozi has signaled that the UPDF decision to make an inclusion into Bunia, the capital of Ituri region where the UPDF have been engaged in Operation Shuja.
He said the inclusion was necessary to protect civilians from militia attacks, leading to speculation about Uganda’s position in the broader DR Congo conflict coming at the time the M23 were making serious gains in eastern swathes of the restive central African nation.
Museveni’s statement reiterates Uganda’s commitment to peace and stability in the region while clarifying that the country’s military presence in DR Congo is not intended to escalate the conflict with the M23.
However, with diverging messages from the government and military leadership, questions remain about Uganda’s strategic goals and its impact on regional peace efforts.
As the situation in DR Congi continues to evolve, Uganda’s role remains a subject of scrutiny. Museveni’s calls for dialogue contrast with the more forceful rhetoric from some military officials, leaving a complex and uncertain path ahead for Uganda’s involvement in the region.
