Captain Kato says that the claims are just mere propaganda and fallacy aimed at soiling the image of Ugandan troops so that it derail and divert the attention of its process of withdrawal from the mission as directed by the mandate.
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Some of M23 rebels' leaders after a press briefing in Bunagana town,Rutshuru territory recently (Photo Credit Samuel Amanya)
Ugandan troops under a peacekeeping mission in North Kivu
province, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have denied fighting alongside
the March 23 Movement (M23) in Masisi territory, North Kivu province.
On Friday, the militia coalition under their umbrella
Wazalendo (patriots) who are fighting alongside Armed Forces of the Democratic
Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers released a statement accusing Ugandan troops
of fighting alongside M23 rebels in Mushaki in Masisi territory. Wazalendo through their spokesperson, Jules
Mulumba also claimed to have arrested and killed some Ugandan troops while on
the front in Mushaki. Mushaki town fell
into M23 rebels’ hands this week after intense fighting.
"Ugandan troops are fighting on the side of the RDF/M23
at Mushaki and foreign mercenaries have been arrested by our troops. Let's all
stand behind the young patriots. We are Wazalendo.Congo First” Wazalendo
claims in a statement”.
However, on Sunday, Ugandan troops through their
spokesperson, Captain Ahmed Hassan Kato released a statement refuting the
claims. Captain Kato says that the
claims are just mere propaganda and fallacy aimed at soiling the image of
Ugandan troops so that it derail and divert the attention of its process of
withdrawal from the mission as directed by the mandate.
Kato says that Ugandan troops have never
operated in Mushaki as it is being falsely claimed by Wazalendo because its
mandate was to keep peace in Rutshuru territory specifically Bunagana, Mabenga,
Tshengerero, and Kiwanja but not Masisi.
Kato adds that the Ugandan troops are now in the process of
safely withdrawing with their equipment from the area since they immensely respect the decisions made by the Heads of State Summits and the East African
Community Chiefs of Defense Forces (CDFS) meetings which subsequently directed
East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) to withdraw from DR Congo.
“We wish to draw your
attention to the misinformation trending on a Propagandist Social Media of the
Wazalendo Militia Armed Group in DRC falsely accusing the UPDF Forces of
conducting Military operations in Rutshuru territory amidst the expiry of the EACRF
Mandate in DRC. They also told a lie that they are holding some of our soldiers
captured as prisoners of war during the battle of
Mushaki between the M23 rebels and the FARDC Forces," Kato said.
On Saturday, M23 rebels advanced from Mushaki to Kirotshe, Ngungu, and
Murambi towards Kagano. M23 is
also controlling from Mushaki to Kabaya 2 in the mountains overlooking the town
of Bihambwe. Wazalendo is also deployed
in Bihambwe town trying to prevent M23
from advancing toward the Rubaya mining
area in Masisi.
In March 2022, M23 led by Bertrand Bisimwa and General
Sultan Makenga launched a war against the government. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of
backing M23, but Rwanda and M23 strongly deny it. The rebels claim to fight against bad
leadership in DR Congo based on corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination.
