UPDF Soldiers to Remain in DRC until Peace and Stability are attained, says Gen Wilson Mbadi

The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Wilson Mbadi, has said the UPDF soldiers who were sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo for a peacekeeping mission, will remain in the country until peace and stability is attained.

“The UPDF peace contingent in the Democratic Republic of Congo shall remain there until peace and stability is attained. The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo shall determine how long the UPDF soldiers on peace mission will remain there. If the situation stabilises now, the UPDF soldiers will immediately withdraw. We have no time frame or time limits,” Gen Mbadi said during a press conference at the Bunagana border post in Kisoro District last Thursday.

A total of 5,000 UPDF soldiers led by Col Michael Walaka Hyeroba were on Wednesday flagged off for the mission in the troubled Rutshuru territory in North Kivu in DRC by the commander of the land forces, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga. 

The commander of the East African forces in DRC, Gen Jeff Nyagah, declined to comment on the troop deployment, says: “There is nothing to talk about. It’s too early for me to comment on this deployment.”

At the weekend, a senior military officer in UPDF told Daily Monitor that the soldiers had successfully deployed at their respective posts in the DRC.

The officer noted that while the UPDF would remain a neutral force in the region, it would retaliate against attacks by any random rebel groups.

Capt. Hassan Hammed Kato, the spokesperson of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) Ugandan contingent, said the UPDF was in the region to ensure that every rebel group vacates the region.