The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) has refuted assertions made by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Wazalendo fighters alleging UPDF soldiers’ involvement in fighting alongside the March 23 Movement (M23).
In a statement released by Wazalendo spokesperson Jules Mulumba on X, formerly Twitter, UPDF soldiers were accused of aiding M23 rebels in capturing Sake town in North Kivu Province. Mulumba accompanied the statement with pictures purportedly showing UPDF armored vehicles near Sake.
Brigadier General Felix Kulaigye, spokesperson for UPDF, dismissed Mulumba’s claims as false. Kulaigye clarified that UPDF soldiers have never entered Sake.
Instead, Kulaigye accused Mulumba of misrepresenting photos of UPDF soldiers during a legal East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) peacekeeping mission in 2023. The pictures, according to Kulaigye, were taken in Tesegero along the Bunagana-Rutshuru road in Rutshuru territory, not Sake.
Kulaigye asserted that Mulumba’s allegations aimed to justify Wazalendo’s losses to M23. He emphasized that UPDF has no reason to involve itself in an internal conflict.
Regarding the conflict, the DRC government has implicated the Rwandan government, led by President Paul Kagame, in supporting the M23 rebel group. However, both Rwanda and M23 vehemently deny these accusations.
In response to UPDF’s statement, Mulumba maintained his stance, accusing UPDF of disregarding evidence seen and experienced by Congolese and Ugandans. The conflict continues, with reports of gunfire in North Kivu as both sides hold their positions.
Meanwhile, the South African National Defense Force confirmed casualties after a bomb attack near Goma city, with two soldiers killed and three injured. This incident underscores the ongoing violence in the region.
Since March 2022, M23 rebels have been engaged in conflict with the DRC government, citing grievances related to corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination. Despite their efforts, M23 has faced resistance, particularly in their attempts to capture Sake town, a critical barrier on their path towards Goma city.
