The operation, code-named, "operation Shujja" is being commanded by Maj Gen Kayanja Muhanga and, according to the ministry of Defence, It will mainly focus on weakening identified enemy camps in Yayuwa, Tondoli, Beni One and Beni Two.
President Yoweri
Museveni has defended the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces –UPDF presence in the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
The UPDF launched air
and artillery raids against the ADF key bases in the Eastern DRC with the Armed
Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-FARDC in November 2021. The operation, code-named, "operation Shujja" is being commanded by
Maj Gen Kayanja Muhanga and, according to the ministry of Defence, It will mainly focus on weakening identified
enemy camps in Yayuwa, Tondoli, Beni One and Beni Two.
Before
the operation, the government had accused ADF
rebels of being behind strings of suicide bombings in Uganda. Two of them were in the heart of Kampala, hitting the Central Police Station and Parliament avenue, a green zone that has a collection of government offices.
“I am glad that our
brothers from DRC are here. We are working together to stop that little problem
of ADF... The LRA, Kony were here, we defeated them. So our brothers and
sisters in Congo, they once in a while come and plant bombs here and kill some
sheikhs,” Museveni said, during the celebrations to mark the 36th National Resistance
Movement (NRM) Liberation day at Kololo Independence Grounds on Wednesday.
He commended his counterpart, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo-
DRC for allowing the Uganda People’s Defence Forces to work with the
Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-FARDC to finish what he described
as a little problem.
//Cue in; “these young
children…
Cue out…and selling
them.”//
According to Museveni,
the air and artillery raids against ADF were the first phase of the war.
//Cue in; “when his
Excellency…
Cue out…and our
agenda.”//
He invited African
leaders to discuss and exchange views on how to build strength in Africa.
Museveni said that Uganda can share the experience it has with others in order
to avoid the current happenings from taking the continent back.
//Cue in; “because
civilian leaders…
Cue out…be dealt with.”//
According to Museveni,
Uganda has built some strength citing the 6,000 UPDF soldiers in Somalia in
pursuit of Al-Shabab and noted that he
is to get in touch with West African leaders so that they harmonize their
thinking.
//Cue in; “we have 6,000…
Cue out…towns in
Mogadishu.”//
These statements by
Museveni come at a time when Parliament’s Budget Committee is contesting the
89.6 billion Shillings request by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran
Affairs to finance the ongoing operation by UPDF in DRC. Legislators say
that they cannot approve the funds for an operation whose details they are not
privy to.
Jacob Oboth, the
Minister of State for Defence also said that the required 89.6 billion
Shillings will cover the cost of logistics, communication and welfare
requirements for the operation, among others. He said that the budget is for
only the anticipated 12 months’ operation.
“Going to Congo, most
people think we went under section 39 of the Constitution…that is not true, we
went under Section 40 which does not require parliamentary approval, but we
have to give parliament information and the delay is regrettable,” Oboth said. He however maintains that they had good reasons for the good of
Ugandans.
Meanwhile, President
Yoweri Museveni re-emphasized to dignitaries at the Liberation Day celebration
the need for Ugandans to engage in four sectors to achieve wealth and
middle-income status. The named sectors are Agriculture, Industry, Services
and ICT.
//Cue in; “but Agriculture
alone…
Cue out…a lot of time.”//
Museveni said he wants
Uganda to be a high middle-income economy and not just a low-level middle
income that is going to be achieved in one or two years.
Only 547 dignitaries
were invited to the 36th National Resistance Movement (NRM) liberation day
celebration by the National Organizing Committee in adherence to the COVID-19
Standard Operating Procedures- SOPs.
