The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has asserted control over two towns in eastern DRC, aiming to halt growing ethnic tensions as regional dynamics in the conflict-torn area continue to shift.
The forces have taken control of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) towns of Kasenyi and Tchomia, a move officials say is aimed at halting the spread of inter-ethnic violence in the volatile eastern region of the country.
The announcement came last week from UPDF spokesman Chris Magezi, who confirmed the operation via a video posted on X.
“We occupied it and Tchomia today to prevent inter-ethnic fighting and to protect the population,” Magezi stated, referring to the strategic border towns located in DRC’s Ituri province along Lake Albert.
The lake not only serves as a geographical divide between the two nations but also anchors a major oil development initiative led by Uganda in collaboration with TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.
This move adds another layer to Uganda’s already complex involvement in eastern DRC. Unlike Rwanda, which has faced accusations of backing the M23 rebel group responsible for widespread territorial gains in the mineral-rich region, Uganda has aligned itself with the DRC government in its battle against Islamist militant threats.
In a related development earlier this year, Uganda declared it had assumed security control over Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, underscoring its deepening role in regional stability operations.
