The Commander Land Forces, Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga, met with senior commanders of Operation Shujaa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on March 22, 2024, to discuss matters regarding the operation.
Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga who was received by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces overall Commander of the Operation, Major General Dick Prit Olum at the operation tactical headquarters in Lunah, discussed the progress of the Operation, successes, challenges and way forward.
The meeting will inform the strategic leadership of matters to discuss in the periodic joint review meeting between the UPDF and the Armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) which normally involves the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of General Staff of the respective Forces.
The joint forces opened up Sector Four of the operation in December 2023 to pursue the remnants of the Allied Democratic Forces that ran West of the Beni-Komanda road having been hit hard in Mwalika Valley under Sector Three.
The opening up of Sector Four, which comprises the Elengeti-Kamanda-Mambasa triangle, saw the opening to traffic of the Elengeti- Kamanda road that had been impassable due to insecurity caused by ADF activities.
The joint operation against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) began in November 2021 in the Semliki sector of Busunga, Nobili, Kamango, Mukakati, and saw the destruction of ADF strong hold camps of Kambi Ya Mbuzi, and Kambi Ya Yua.
The ADF is an affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group under the command of Musa Baluku. The hunt by the joint forces for Baluku and his senior commanders like Luminsa, Amigo, and Abu Waqas continues in the jungles of the Eastern Democratic Democratic Republic of Congo.
The meeting was attended by commanders, principal staff officers and heads of departments of the Operation.
Major Bilal Katamba
Public Information Officer
UPDF Mountain Division /Operation Shujaa