Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) troops on patrol in the Ituri region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have repulsed an attack by gunmen believed to be rogue elements of the Congolese army (FARDC) operating in collaboration with the notorious CODECO militia.
According to Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director for Defence Public Information, the militants opened fire on a UPDF patrol under circumstances that are still being investigated. Soldiers on the ground swiftly responded, engaging the attackers and neutralising several of them.
“Our patrol unit returned fire and neutralised some of the attackers,” Col. Magezi said in a statement published on X. “We are yet to conclusively determine the motive behind the ambush.”
He noted that sustained UPDF operations in Ituri have significantly weakened CODECO, a group widely accused of carrying out brutal attacks on civilians, including women and children.
“UPDF forces in that part of Ituri have severely degraded CODECO as a fighting force, which previously was responsible for widespread massacres against unarmed civilians,” he said.
Magezi added that the militia has recently attempted to recruit sympathisers—among them rogue actors within the FARDC—in a bid to disrupt ongoing joint security efforts.
“The criminal and terrorist enterprise that CODECO is does not want continued UPDF presence in the area, and it is trying to recruit some allies, including rogue elements associated with FARDC,” he noted.
Despite reports of individual FARDC actors collaborating with CODECO, Col. Magezi emphasized that overall cooperation between the UPDF and the Congolese army remains strong.
“The relationship between the UPDF and FARDC remains rock solid as the joint forces battle negative groups in the Ituri Province and other parts of eastern DRC,” he said.
