Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has issued a stark warning, threatening to attack the town of Bunia in eastern Congo unless all armed groups in the area surrender their weapons within 24 hours. Kainerugaba, who has previously made provocative remarks on foreign policy, stated that he was acting with the authority of his father, President Yoweri Museveni. A spokesperson for Uganda’s military declined to comment on the matter.
Kainerugaba’s warning follows his earlier claim that the Bahima ethnic group, to which he belongs, was being attacked in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He did not provide evidence to support the accusation but emphasized the seriousness of the situation. “No one on this earth can kill my people and think they will not suffer for it!” he stated, fueling concerns of potential escalation in the region.
The general also declared that Bunia would soon fall under the control of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF). The statement has raised alarm among analysts, with fears that tensions between Congolese forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels could ignite a broader regional conflict. In February, reports indicated that Uganda had sent over 1,000 additional troops to eastern Congo as part of an operation to combat Islamist militants.
Kainerugaba’s statements have also raised questions about Uganda’s geopolitical and economic interests in Congo’s Ituri province, where Bunia is the capital. His support for Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and the M23 rebel group has stoked further concern about Uganda’s role in the ongoing instability in the region.
This latest round of tensions brings to mind the Second Congolese War of the late 1990s, during which Uganda and Rwanda were heavily involved in the conflict, raising concerns that a similar territorial division could be in play again.
Kainerugaba, who has also made inflammatory remarks on social media, such as a previous threat to invade Kenya and a comment about beheading Uganda’s opposition leader Bobi Wine, has drawn criticism for his statements, which some believe are meant to send strong messages about Uganda’s regional influence.