Ugandan troops enter eastern DR Congo city of Bunia as militia killings escalate
The deployment follows recent statements by Gen. Kainerugaba, who last week threatened to capture Bunia in response to alleged attacks on the Bahima ethnic group.
Ugandan troops have entered the eastern Congolese city of Bunia in Ituri Province, in a joint effort with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forces to curb escalating violence perpetrated by armed groups, a military spokesman confirmed on Tuesday.
A high-level meeting on Monday between Ugandan and DRC military officials resulted in an agreement for a joint deployment in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, said Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, the Ugandan military spokesperson.
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“Ugandan forces now control Bunia together with Congolese forces,” Kulayigye stated, adding that the deployment was necessitated by ongoing ethnic killings and other crimes committed by armed groups.
Col. Chris Magezi, military assistant to Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, confirmed the arrival of Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in Bunia.
“UPDF troops arrived in Bunia, Ituri province, DRC today. FARDC is cooperating very well with UPDF. There is huge support from the people of Bunia,” Magezi said in a statement, referring to the Congolese army, Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC).
The deployment follows recent statements by Gen. Kainerugaba, who last week threatened to capture Bunia in response to alleged attacks on the Bahima ethnic group.
“My people, the Bahima, are being attacked. That’s a very dangerous situation for those attacking my people. No one on this earth can kill my people and think he will not suffer for it!” Kainerugaba declared on social media.
100 civilians killed
The situation in Ituri has deteriorated significantly, with violence escalating in recent weeks. The CODECO militia, one of several armed groups operating in the region, has reportedly killed around 100 civilians, mostly from the Hema ethnic community. The Hema, pastoralists in Ituri province, frequently maintain connections with the wider Tutsi community in the region.
The crisis has drawn international concern.
In January 2023, Wairimu Nderitu, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, warned of the potential for mass atrocities and urged urgent action to prevent further bloodshed.
With the UPDF now formally stationed in Bunia, security operations in Ituri province are expected to intensify. Bunia serves as a strategic administrative and economic hub, making its stabilisation a key objective for joint military operations.
This latest development also aligns with Uganda’s broader military posture in eastern DRC.
The UPDF recently adopted a Forward Defensive Posture in North Kivu province to counter threats posed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and other armed groups. The ADF has been responsible for widespread atrocities, with over 650 civilians killed in North Kivu and Ituri provinces since June 2024 alone.
The ADF’s attacks, particularly between June 3 and 12, resulted in the deaths of at least 150 civilians in Cantine, with further violence spilling into the Bapere sector along the Beni-Lubero border.
The surge in brutality has deepened the humanitarian crisis, placing thousands of civilians at risk.
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