Peace Assured: UPDF Enters Mahagi Town, Bringing Hope to Ugandans and Congolese

By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo, Uganda | The Luo Native – Ugandans and Congolese have been assured of maximum peace and security following the strategic entry of Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers into Mahagi town in Ituri Province, DR Congo, last week.

Festus Ayikobua, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of the border district of Zombo in the West Nile Sub-region, stated, "There is no cause for alarm." Speaking on a local radio station on March 5, 2025, Ayikobua emphasized that Ugandan forces entered DRC to pacify the area for the peaceful settlement of returning Congolese refugees, in the spirit of Pan-Africanism and bilateral agreements between the two nations.

On February 3, 2025, Felix Kulayigye, the Ugandan army spokesperson, confirmed the deployment of Ugandan troops to northeastern DR Congo, aiming to fend off attacks by local armed groups. He revealed that the deployment was at the request of Congolese authorities following the massacre of 51 locals near Mahagi town by the militia group Cooperative For the Development of Congo (CODECO).

"Our troops have entered Mahagi town, and we are in control," Uganda's defense and military affairs spokesperson Felix Kulayigye told AFP on Sunday.

The UPDF's entry into DR Congo has elicited mixed reactions among Ugandans in the greater Nebbi's three districts of Pakwach, Nebbi, and Zombo. This prompted RDC Festus Ayikobua to address the concerns on a local radio station. "Much as our soldiers have entered Congo, I want to assure you that there is no cause for alarm; the situation is peaceful," Ayikobua stated. He added, "We are there to protect our people in the spirit of Pan-Africanism."

Mahagi, located in Ituri province bordering Uganda, witnessed the killing of at least 51 people on February 10 by armed men affiliated with CODECO, according to humanitarian and local sources.

In 2021, the same Congolese-based rebel outfit CODECO launched a violent attack inside Uganda on an army detachment at Zeu in Zombo. The attackers were repulsed by UPDF soldiers, who killed five of the insurgents.

The DR Congo is currently plagued by the activities of over 100 militias, primarily operating in the volatile eastern region. CODECO claims to defend the interests of the Lendu community, mainly composed of farmers, against the Hema community, who are primarily herders.

The latest deployment adds to the thousands of Ugandan troops earlier deployed in other parts of Ituri under an agreement with the Congolese government to pacify the mineral-rich volatile eastern Congo. Last month, Uganda announced its troops had "taken control" of the provincial capital, Bunia. In January, the well-entrenched anti-government M23 rebels seized Goma city, dealing another blow to the Kinshasa establishment.