By THE INDEPENDENT UG
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) have firmly rejected claims made by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Wazalendo fighters, asserting that their soldiers are not involved in fighting alongside the March 23 Movement (M23).
On Tuesday, Jules Mulumba, the spokesperson for Wazalendo, released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, accusing UPDF soldiers of collaborating with M23 rebels in an attempt to capture Sake town in North Kivu Province. Mulumba even posted pictures of UPDF armored vehicles, claiming they were in proximity to Sake.
In response, UPDF spokesperson Brigadier General Felix Kulaigye, in a statement on Thursday, dismissed Mulumba’s accusations as false, stating categorically that UPDF soldiers have never set foot in Sake. Kulaigye accused Mulumba of misusing photos of UPDF soldiers taken during a legitimate East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) peacekeeping mission in 2023 in Tchengerero along Bunagana-Rutshuru road in Rutshuru territory, falsely insinuating UPDF involvement with M23.
Kulaigye clarified that the photo posted by Mulumba was taken when Uganda’s Contingent to East African Community Regional Force was in Tesegero, situated along the Bunagana-Rutshuru to Goma axis, not in Sake.
Kulaigye emphasized that Mulumba’s attempt to link UPDF to the conflict is baseless, asserting that UPDF has no reason to be engaged in an internal conflict. He added, “Mulumba, the spokesperson for Democratic Forces For Liberation of Rwanda aka Wazalendo, is trying to justify their losses to M23 with such allegations.”
The official stance of the DRC government is that the Kigali government, led by President Paul Kagame, is supporting the M23 rebel group. In response to UPDF’s statement, Mulumba released another statement on Thursday, claiming, “And this is how they treat the Congolese as fools, here they are denying the evidence seen and experienced by the Congolese as well as the Ugandans on both sides of the border.”
As of Thursday, there was a cessation of gunfire at all fronts in North Kivu, with both parties maintaining their positions.
In a separate development, the South African National Defense Force confirmed in a statement that two of its soldiers were killed and three others injured in a bomb attack near Goma city. The incident occurred when a mortar bomb targeted their base, described as an indirect fire.
Since March 2022, M23, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and General Sultan Makenga, has waged a war against the government, with the DRC government accusing Rwanda of supporting M23, an allegation strongly denied by both Rwanda and M23. The rebels claim to be fighting against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination in DR Congo.
Over the past two weeks, Masisi territory has witnessed intense fighting as M23 rebels attempt to capture Sake town without success. Situated approximately 25 kilometers northwest of Goma, Sake town represents the last barrier for M23 before reaching Goma city. However, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), the Wazalendo militia coalition, and troops under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are putting up robust resistance to prevent M23 rebels, located about 5 kilometers from the town, from advancing.
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