The Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi and his counterpart, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), Lieutenant General Christian Tshiwewe Songesha, have today chaired a Joint FARDC – UPDF operations evaluation meeting in Beni, DR Congo.
Gen Mbadi said the meeting reviewed the progress of Operation Shujaa which was commissioned by the Presidents of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in order to foster peace and security in the Eastern part of DR Congo.
“This operation started in November 2021 and we periodically do reviews to see the progress in order to totally annihilate the ADF together with our comrades of the FARDC,” said Gen Mbadi.
Gen Mbadi said that the aim of evaluating the progress of Operation Shujaa was to devise other mechanisms to achieve the objectives of the operation.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief of General Staff of (FARDC) Lieutenant General Christian Tshiwewe Songesha, the Governor of North Kivu, Lieutenant General Constant Ndima Kongba, thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and His counterpart Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo for sanctioning the joint operation to uproot the terrorist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) which was a huge threat to both countries.
“FARDC and UPDF joined forces in order to uproot this threat and ensure peace to the people of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the military, we are determined to finish the mission that was assigned to us by the two Heads of State,” said Lt Gen Ndima
Lt Gen Ndima added that the results of the operation so far have proved that both FARDC and UPDF have done a commendable job in terms of achieving the objectives of the operation.
The two Forces later signed a joint evaluation report on the progress of Operation Shujaa.
The meeting was attended by Uganda’s Commander of Land Forces, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, Chief of Military Intelligence, Maj Gen James Birungi, Military Assistant to the CDF, Brig Gen Irumba Tingira, Colonel James Kasule and Colonel Paul Muwonge.
