Inside CDF Gen Muhoozi’s Security Talks With MONUSCO Force Chief

The Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Saturday held high-level discussions with Lt Gen Ulisses De Mesquita Gomes, the Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), to explore deeper cooperation in efforts to stabilize eastern DRC.

MONUSCO, established in 2010 as the successor to MONUC, remains one of the UN’s largest peacekeeping missions and is mandated to protect civilians under imminent threat of violence while supporting broader peace consolidation initiatives in the DRC.

Lt Gen Mesquita Gomes led a delegation comprising Brig Gen Givenz Kishombe Sichali, the Force Chief of Staff, and Col Patrick Locatelli, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans.

Gen Muhoozi was joined by senior UPDF commanders including Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga (Commander Land Forces), Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba (Chief of Joint Staff), and Maj Gen Richard Otto (Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security).

The meeting, held at the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe, focused on strengthening security coordination in eastern DRC, where the UPDF continues to pursue ADF and other terrorist elements.

It comes on the heels of a meeting between the CDF and Johan Borgstam, the EU Special envoy to the Great Lakes Region in which they also discussed security in the region.

The meeting also comes at a time when MONUSCO’s mandate and role in the DRC continue to evolve. In 2023, President Félix Tshisekedi’s government formally requested the mission’s withdrawal, arguing that it had not sufficiently protected civilians or ended cycles of violence. However, shifting diplomatic dynamics later led to renewed cooperation. On April 25, Rwanda and the DRC signed a declaration of principles reaffirming support for MONUSCO and its mandate.

Lt Gen Mesquita Gomes commended Uganda’s role in regional peace and applauded the UPDF’s contributions in eastern Congo, expressing MONUSCO’s desire for more synchronized cooperation, particularly in joint planning and intelligence sharing.

Under Operation Shujaa, a joint UPDF–FARDC offensive launched in 2021, ADF and other armed groups have been significantly degraded, allowing many communities in eastern DRC to regain stability and resume normal life. The operation continues to receive recognition for its impact on weakening terrorist networks in the region.

Gen Muhoozi welcomed the MONUSCO Commander’s enthusiasm to collaborate more closely, reaffirming the UPDF’s commitment to working with FARDC and UN forces to consolidate the security gains achieved so far.

Both delegations pledged to enhance coordination, improve joint efforts to counter armed groups, and reinforce ongoing initiatives aimed at restoring sustainable peace in eastern DRC.