We may pull out of Congo in two weeks - Gen Kainerugaba

“Operation Shujaa will officially cease in about two weeks according to our original agreement. It was supposed to last for six months. Unless I get further instructions from our Commander in Chief or CDF, I will withdraw all our troops from DRC in two weeks,” Kainerugaba said.

The operation hots up Pulse

The two national armies, the UPDF and FADRC, are currently conducting a joint military operation against the ADF rebels in their hideouts in the eastern Congo provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.

This operation had a time frame of six months and ends in two weeks’ time, Kainerugaba explained.

UPDF soldiers striking poses Pulse

Kainerugaba added that the pullout will however be predicated on whether the two countries seek to strike a new deal or wind things up according to the said time frame.

“To be clear Operation Shujaa will continue even for another two months if the two presidents Yoweri Kaguta and Felix Tshisekedi decide to extend it. The two of them are the ultimate authorities. The joint forces of UPDF and FARDC are happy to keep eliminating ADF,” he added.

An extension likely

A month ago, the commanders of the joint armies of Uganda and DRC met to chart a way forward regarding the shared road construction project in the DRC. This is likely to extend the UPDF’s tour of duty in the DRC.

Uganda is set to construct 223km of roads inside the DRC at a cost of Shs243.7 billion.

The first road will run from Kasindi to Beni (80km) and the second one will integrate the Beni-Butebo axis (54km).

UPDF soldiers on the ground Pulse

The third road will stretch out for 89 kilometres from the border town of Bunagana, through Rutshuru to the strategic city of Goma, the capital of the North Kivu Province in DRC.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries states that Operation Shujaa includes the rehabilitation of the Kasindi – Beni – Butembo and Bunagana – Rutshuru – Goma Highways in Eastern DRC.