Ugandan troops have pushed Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters away from Uganda’s border, but the group still poses a threat, Operation Shujaa commander Maj Gen Stephen Mugerwa has warned.
Mugerwa spoke at Mungamba Military Base in Ituri Province during a troop rotation involving the 2 Mountain Battalion, 83 Battalion and Makindye Battalion.
He praised the soldiers for their role in operations against the ADF in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, he told returning troops that the mission remained unfinished because the joint forces had not eliminated the group.
Mugerwa, who also commands the Mountain Infantry Division, said advances through the Mwalika Valley had driven ADF fighters further from Uganda’s border.
He said those gains had reduced the group’s threat and improved security in Uganda and the DRC.
The commander also urged the troops to protect their health. He cautioned them against promiscuity and reminded them that they still had military duties to fulfil.
“We still have the duty of protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda. That is why you need to be healthy,” he said.
Uganda and the DRC launched Operation Shujaa in November 2021. The offensive brings together the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces and the Congolese army, known as FARDC, against the ADF in Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
