Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, met with his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), General Christian Tshiwewe Songesha, the General Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), in the town of Kasindi in Eastern DRC on Monday afternoon.
The meeting was attended by other high-ranking UPDF officials, including the Commander Land Force Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga, and Operation Shujaa Commander Major General Dick Olum. The FARDC delegation also included top Generals from the DRC military.
This engagement was part of the routine discussions between the UPDF and FARDC to review the progress of Operation Shujaa, which was initiated following agreements between Uganda and the DRC in 2021.
In the Kasindi meeting, General Kainerugaba praised Operation Shujaa as a prime example of African countries working together to address shared concerns, specifically combating the ADF terrorist threat. He expressed gratitude towards the leaders of Uganda and the DRC for championing this initiative, underscoring the longstanding relationship between the two nations and emphasising the role of UPDF and FARDC in ensuring continued peaceful coexistence.
General Kainerugaba, also the Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations, extended his appreciation to his DRC counterpart for the warm reception and acknowledged his leadership in driving the operation’s success.
He highlighted the significant progress made in weakening the ADF terrorists, citing numerous casualties, captures, and surrenders. General Songesha reciprocated the appreciation by congratulating General Muhoozi on his recent appointment as the CDF and commended the joint efforts of UPDF and FARDC in combating the common enemy, the ADF.
OPERATION SHUJAA
Operation Shuja is a joint offensive launched in 2021 by the Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF) and the Congolese army (FARDC) against the ADF, that has been operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) region near the border with Uganda.
This operation aims to target and neutralize the ADF rebels, who have been responsible for numerous attacks and atrocities in the region, including targeting civilians, kidnapping, and engaging in illicit activities like illegal logging and mining. By launching a joint offensive, Uganda and the DRC sought to enhance security cooperation and address the threat posed by the ADF insurgency.
The operation also involves coordinated military maneuvers, intelligence gathering, and strategic planning to disrupt and dismantle ADF networks and strongholds in the border region between Uganda and the DRC. The ultimate goal is to degrade the capabilities of the ADF and restore stability to the affected areas.
