Ituri, DRC: The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have successfully overrun a major stronghold of the deadly CODECO militia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a major breakthrough in a cross-border military campaign aimed at ending years of ethnic violence and instability.
Im a statement released by Col. Chris Magezi, the Military Assistant to Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the operation, codenamed Mlinzi wa Wanyonge (Swahili for Protector of the Weak), has brought renewed hope to communities in Ituri Province that have long suffered under the grip of the notorious armed group.
“For years, the ultra-violent CODECO militia orchestrated horrific ethnic cleansing campaigns in the region with impunity, especially against the neighbouring Hema people,” Col. Magezi stated.
The Ugandan-led offensive, launched in coordination with regional peace efforts, has seen UPDF forces penetrate deep into militia territory, dismantling command centres and seizing weapons used to terrorise civilians in eastern Congo.
At the peak of CODECO’s atrocities, thousands of Congolese civilians—mainly women and children—fled to Uganda for safety, overwhelming border districts like Bundibugyo, Kisoro, and Kasese. The militia has long been accused by international observers of mass killings, village torching, and creating systematic fear among ethnic groups, especially the Hema and Alur.
Col. Magezi emphasized that the UPDF intervention was guided by a Pan-African peace agenda and Uganda’s duty to prevent cross-border threats. “The operation has restored hope among the long-suffering communities in that part of Congo,” he said.
This latest success follows a series of joint efforts under the East African Community (EAC) regional force, and Uganda’s historical role in stabilising eastern DRC under the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
The UPDF’s “Operation Mlinzi wa Wanyonge” is part of a broader security doctrine championed by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has vowed to protect the vulnerable across borders where Uganda’s peace is affected.
The army did not confirm the exact number of CODECO fighters captured or neutralised by press time, but military sources say mop-up operations are underway to prevent regrouping.
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