UPDF Enters Congolese City of Bunia Amid Rising Tensions.

Bunia, DRC – February 18, 2025 – The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have officially entered the eastern Congolese city of Bunia, a move aimed at preventing further violence in the region. This development follows recent warnings from Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who stated that the UPDF would deploy unless all forces in the area surrendered.

Bunia, located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Uganda’s border, has been a hotspot for conflict in recent months. The presence of the UPDF is intended to curb escalating violence involving Congolese military forces, according to Uganda’s acting Director of Defence Public Information, Major General Felix Kulayigye.

Meanwhile, Burundi has begun withdrawing its troops from eastern DRC, where they had been engaged in operations against the M23 rebels. This withdrawal, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday, further weakens the Congolese army’s ability to counter the rebel advance, raising concerns over the security situation in the region.

The UPDF has been active in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the past, participating in joint military operations against armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group responsible for several attacks in both Uganda and the DRC. The latest deployment signals Uganda’s continued involvement in stabilizing the conflict-ridden area, though it remains to be seen how regional and international actors will respond.

As tensions mount in eastern DRC, the entry of UPDF troops into Bunia marks a significant shift in the military dynamics of the region, with potential implications for both Congolese sovereignty and broader regional security.

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