Gen Kainerugaba: ‘Finish the ADF Before Year’s End’

(North Kivu) – General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations, paid a visit to the joint military forces operating under Operation Shujaa in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday.

Operation Shujaa, launched in November 2021, is a collaborative effort between the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) aimed at eradicating Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the region.

Upon landing in North Kivu Province, Gen Kainerugaba proceeded to Ituri Province, where he held strategic discussions with commanders and militants involved in the mission. He was warmly received by Maj Gen Richard Otto, Commander of Operation Shujaa, and accompanied by top UPDF officials, including Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, Brig Gen Dan Kakono, and Col Albert Kashakamba.

Addressing the troops, Gen Kainerugaba lauded their patriotism and commitment to defeating the ADF, emphasizing the high expectations of Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Felix Tshisekedi for a complete mission success by year’s end. The general also shared a combined Christmas and New Year lunch with the forces, bolstering their morale and urging them to intensify efforts to capture remaining ADF leaders, particularly a commander known as Bwakasi (Abu Wakasi).

During the visit, evidence of progress in the operation was visible. Civilians were seen engaging in everyday activities such as transporting goods and farming, signaling a return to normalcy in many areas. However, abandoned homes overgrown with shrubs served as stark reminders of the devastation caused by the ADF before the operation began.

Operation Shujaa has achieved significant results, including a drastic reduction in ADF attacks on Ugandan territory and the restoration of relative calm for civilian populations. Many senior ADF commanders have been neutralized, and the remaining rebels now operate in small, fragmented groups outside the reach of Operation Shujaa.

Gen Kainerugaba pledged to return to the operation area and challenged the troops to ensure that the remaining ADF rebels are fully eliminated. His visit underscores the joint forces’ dedication to regional security and stability through cross-border collaboration.