In a swift and strategic operation, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Special Forces Reconnaissance Elements have successfully entered Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to highly placed military sources.
The main UPDF force has also reached the outskirts of the city, poised to secure the area and neutralize armed groups threatening regional stability.
The operation, which has been marked by seamless cooperation between the UPDF and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), has already garnered significant support from the local population in Bunia.
Residents, weary of years of violence and instability, have welcomed the joint forces, expressing hope for lasting peace in the region.
The UPDF, through Operation Shujaa, continues to support the Congolese army (FARDC) in its fight against Islamist militants in eastern DRC, a region plagued by conflict for over 30 years.
During the Tarehe Sita celebrations, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, highlighted progress against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces. He said that the joint UPDF-FARDC forces had "severely degraded and dismantled ADF as a fighting force," leading to the liberation of entire villages and the rescue of abducted individuals. He reaffirmed UPDF's commitment to eliminating the group entirely.
Meanwhile, the M23 rebel group continues its territorial expansion. Last week, an M23 leader claimed they had entered Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC, after capturing Goma at the end of last month.
