UPDF in Final Touches to Deploy to Goma under EAC Regional Force

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) are making final preparations to deploy troops to Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as agreed upon by the EAC Heads of State.

“UPDF troops in final touches to deploy in the DRC under the East African Community Regional Force,” said Defence Spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye.

According to Brig Gen Kulayigye, the force is currently undergoing final mentoring before they are inserted into Eastern DRC to join their Kenyan counterparts already in Goma.

The inaugural Kenyan Contingent troops under the East African Community Regional Force arrived in Goma, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday November 12, 2022.

While addressing the press Wednesday, the Force Commander for the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), Major General Jeff Nyagah, called upon the armed groups in the eastern DRC to cease hostilities against the population.

He vowed to protect Goma and its citizens from any attacks by armed groups.

UPDF, on the other hand, has been in DRC since May 2021 with the aim of flushing out the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants in the ongoing joint operation with the country’s armed forces (FARDC) codenamed “Operation Shujaa”.

Ituri and North Kivu are the two eastern provinces of the DRC where the ADF, among dozens of other armed groups, are active, accused of having massacred thousands of civilians in the DRC and committed jihadist attacks in Uganda.