Ugandan forces have scored a major battlefield victory in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after capturing the primary base of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) leader Musa Baluku in Apakwang, a remote area of Ituri Province, marking what military officials have described as the most significant gain yet in the ongoing Operation Shujaa.
The offensive, coordinated between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC), began on Sunday, July 6, with precision airstrikes and heavy artillery shelling targeting entrenched ADF positions. The decisive ground assault followed in the ensuing days, culminating in the capture of the camp on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
According to Colonel Chris Magezi, Military Assistant to the UPDF Chief of Defence Forces, the seized base served as the command hub for ADF’s eastern operations and could accommodate between 1,000 to 1,500 fighters and non-combatants.
Among the seized assets were weapons caches, communication equipment, medical stores, and sprawling fields of cassava, rice, and beans, underscoring the camp’s strategic and logistical importance.
Musa Baluku’s Network Dislodged
Musa Baluku, a Ugandan extremist cleric who took over the ADF following the 2015 capture of founder Jamil Mukulu, has been on Uganda’s most-wanted list for years. Under his leadership, the ADF formally aligned with the Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCAP), increasing its lethality and drawing international concern.
Intelligence sources believe Baluku had relocated several times in recent months as joint UPDF-FARDC operations intensified.
While his current whereabouts remain unclear, the loss of his base deprives him of a major operational safe haven.
Operation Shujaa: A Regional Counter-Terror Strategy
Launched in November 2021 after a wave of bombings in Kampala linked to the ADF, Operation Shujaa represents a bold security cooperation framework between Uganda and the DRC. It aims to uproot terror networks, stabilize border communities, and reclaim vast swathes of territory long abandoned to armed groups.
Past UPDF offensives had pushed the ADF out of key positions in North Kivu, forcing them to retreat and regroup in the densely forested zones of Ituri. The recent offensive into Apakwang suggests the UPDF has successfully adapted to new ADF tactics of mobile insurgency and deep forest concealment.
Military observers note that the offensive was likely bolstered by improved human intelligence, aerial surveillance, and increased mobility assets, including Mi-17 helicopters and long-range patrol units trained in jungle warfare.
Political and Diplomatic Dimensions
Uganda’s successful military operation in DRC may also strengthen Kampala’s hand in regional security initiatives.
Additionally, this victory could provide a boost to Uganda’s national security narrative ahead of the 2026 elections, particularly given public demand for the protection of border communities in districts like Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Ntoroko, which have previously borne the brunt of ADF cross-border raids.
President Yoweri Museveni, who authorized Operation Shujaa, has long argued that externalized insurgencies require robust cross-border action backed by bilateral and multilateral frameworks — a doctrine that continues to shape Uganda’s military engagements in Somalia, DRC, and South Sudan.
ADF in Retreat, but Not Defeated
Despite recent losses, analysts warn that the ADF remains a dangerous force. The group’s guerrilla tactics, ability to recruit from disillusioned communities, and links to transnational extremist networks make it a persistent threat in the region.
The UPDF confirmed that operations will continue westward, targeting newly identified ADF positions and cutting off their escape routes through the dense Ituri rainforest. Search efforts are also underway to locate captured civilians and determine the full extent of the group’s logistical networks.
In conclusion, the capture of Musa Baluku’s stronghold marks a symbolic and tactical victory for Uganda and its allies. It demonstrates the continuing evolution of Operation Shujaa — from isolated engagements to strategic offensives capable of dismantling insurgent architecture in one of Africa’s most volatile zones.
“We thank our brothers in the FARDC for their cooperation and comradeship,” Col. Magezi stated. “The mission continues.”
Last month, the operation’s mandate was extended during a visit by Uganda’s CDF General Muhoozi Kainerugaba to Kinshasa.
