The Chief of Defense Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, arrived in Nairobi this morning for a high-level meeting of East African Community (EAC) military chiefs. The discussions aim to address the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has threatened regional stability.
Gen. Kainerugaba is accompanied by Major General James Birungi, Chief of Defense Intelligence and Security, along with other senior UPDF officials. The meeting brings together defense chiefs from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, the DRC, South Sudan, and Somalia to strategize on restoring peace and security in the region.
“Our collective focus on the security challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo exemplifies the cooperative spirit that binds the East African Community,” Gen. Kainerugaba stated.
This gathering follows directives from the Joint EAC-SADC Heads of State Summit held on February 8, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Regional leaders tasked the Chiefs of Defense Forces with providing technical guidance on resolving the crisis, as the M23 rebel group continues to seize key cities, including Goma and Bukavu.
Eastern DRC has long been plagued by conflict, with multiple armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), exacerbating instability. The ADF, originally from Uganda, has been a persistent threat, despite joint UPDF-FARDC operations. According to the UPDF, the ADF’s capabilities have been significantly weakened, with only scattered remnants remaining in the DRC’s dense forests.
In a related development, the UPDF recently entered Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, in a coordinated operation with the FARDC. The move was met with approval from local residents, who have endured years of violence.
