By KT Reporter
The United Nations Security Council has accused Uganda of deploying 4000 extra troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo without the latter’s consent.
A UN report released on Wednesday shows that there are 6,000 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) troops in the DRC’s North Kivu and Ituri provinces, of which only 2,000 have been approved by Kinshasa.
UN report compiled by a team of six experts led by Mélanie De Groof and presented to the committee on May 6, 2025 and was considered on July 2, 2025 shows Uganda started by deploying 1000 extra forces and later on deployed more than 3000.
“In early 2025, Uganda unilaterally doubled its military presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, deploying additional troops of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to North Kivu and Ituri Provinces without the prior approval of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” UN report reads.
UN insists that the deployments occurred outside the framework and operational zones previously agreed with the DRC Government. UN also cites the Chief of Defence Forces –CDF Gen Muhoozi Kaineruga, for publicly expressing support to Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) activities in the DRC.
“The deployment of UPDF in proximity to AFC/M23 positions, combined with the public alignment of the Chief of Defence Forces of UPDF with RDF, prompted questions about the real objectives of Uganda. In early February, UPDF deployed over 1,000 additional UPDF troops to the south of Lubero. Additional UPDF troops were stationed along the Lubero-Butembo axis, while others deployed to Bunia and Mahagi and Djugu territories in Ituri. Groof and team investigations presented to UN for further read.
Groof led report explains that total deployments in 2025 accounted for at least 3,000 additional troops, bringing the total UN UPDF presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2024 to over 6,000 personnel – effectively doubling the footprint of Uganda in the country.
“By contrast, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had only been officially notified of 2,000 UPDF personnel operating under the framework of Operation Shujaa since its inception. Uganda maintained that the UPDF deployment fell within the broader framework of Operation Shujaa. However, the new deployments did not result in any operational gains against ADF,” Groof led report adds.
Kinshasa, according to UN report, has confirmed that the new UPDF deployment had been executed without its prior approval and that UPDF was undertaking unilateral initiatives outside the framework of joint operations with the FARDC. Because of UPDF deployment in key strategic areas without the authorisation of DRC, UN has indicated that the intervention elevated Uganda to a prominent stakeholder in the ongoing conflict.
“The immediate proximity of UPDF forces to AFC/M23 and RDF positions in southern Lubero territory raised concerns about the impartiality of the UPDF presence, considering the previously documented support of some UPDF elements to AFC/M23 operations. On the one hand, UPDF prevented AFC/M23 forces from advancing toward Kisangani through negotiation rather than confrontation – consistent with the declared aim of Uganda of protecting its national interests while avoiding armed confrontation with M23,” UN indicates.
UPDF have been accused of being a buffer on the northern front, where AFC/M23 and RDF were most vulnerable militarily. This positioning, according to UN, yielded a significant tactical advantage to AFC/M23, which, reassured that it would not be attacked from the north, could instead focus its operational capacity westward, facilitating offensives toward Walikale.
“Repeated incendiary public statements by the Commander of the Defence Forces of UPDF, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, such as expressing admiration for President Kagame and emphasising close cooperation between the UPDF and RDF, have raised legitimate questions regarding the underlying objectives of the involvement of Uganda in the region,” UN states.
UPDF entered DRC in November 2021 to fight Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terror group, which was accused of detonating several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Kampala, leaving nine people dead, including three suspected suicide bombers.
The most lethal IEDs went off at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) and Parliamentary Avenue, leaving at least 23 police officers injured and over 10 civilians.
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