The UPDF and the Congolese national army, FARDC, have claimed that there are “sinister plans to discredit Operation Shujaa,’ an offensive against Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the Central African branch of Islamic State (IS) blamed for last year’s bomb attacks in Uganda.
In a joint statement by UPDF and Defence Ministry Spokesperson Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso and her counterpart Leon-Richard Cibangu Kasonga of FARDC on January 10, both Kampala and Kinshansa agree that there could be plans by some groups to harm the public and blame such acts on the Ugandan army.
“The FADRC and the UPDF wish to alert the public that they have critical information about the existence, in the region in which they lead military operations, of an armed group harbouring sinister clandestine plans deliberately intended to sabotage the joint military action against the ADF active in the East of DRC and discredit operation SHUJAA,” said Byekwaso and Kasonga in a joint statement.
“The vicious mission thus plotted aims not only at sparking and promoting hostility towards the UPDF and the FADRC among the local population that they have been mandated to protect but also to create generalised panic and stampede in this same population which welcomed and supported the coalition forces since the launch of operations against the enemies of peace.”
EVIDENCE SUPPORTING UPDF, FARDC CONCERNS
According to the spokespersons of the two national armies, the interception of a truck carrying clothes that looks almost similar to the UPDF uniform is proof that someone somewhere is plan to soil the good image of Kampala’s defence forces.
“The brief facts are that on the 6th January 2022 a commercial truck (Registration No. withheld) carrying assorted goods was intercepted by the Customs Officers (DGDA) in Butembo and on inspection of the cargo inside the truck the officers discovered clothing similar to the UPDF uniform. The consignee was a reknown businessman at Butembo. The truck had been cleared through Mpondwe border on 3rd day of January 2022 (entry No. also withheld). The truck, its cargo and handlers are all still held at the Customs Office Butembo,” explained Byekwaso and Kasonga.
“By wearing the UPDF uniform and insignia, the members of this group plan to resort to this subterfuge to camouflage themselves to be able to go on an atrocious rampage to wreck un-scalable havoc including massacres, in order to badly injure the image of the UPDF; ultimately creating the belief that it is the UPDF attacking the people they have saved and protected, so far.”
But the two forces have sworn to do everything possible to crack down on groups planning such evil actions.
“The FADRC and UPDF reassure the public that they will not be distracted nor diverted from their mission to definitively neutralise the enemy,” the statement further read.
“They affirm that in the conduct of operations to restore peace, security and state authority, they respect human rights, international law and humanitarian aid and rules of engagement.”
