DR Congo: UPDF Contingent Builds House for 80-Year-Old Man

The Commanding Officer of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Contingent operating in DR Congo Col Michael Walaka Hyeroba on Thursday, June 29 handed over a two-bedroomed house to an 80-year-old man named Mzee Sefuko Ghato who resides in Amafiga village, Kabanda sub-county in North Kivu.

UPDF is deployed in DRC under the mandate of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) to serve as a peacekeeping mission. During the handover of the house, Col Hyeroba thanked God for the life of Mzee Ghato and the UPDF leadership for accepting to facilitate the activity to promote mutual cooperation between Uganda Contingent and the Civilian community.

“To UPDF, the Civilians are a very important aspect in UPDF Ugacon Military activities in the EACRF peacekeeping operations and to the entire UPDF as a family and it is this family which has enabled us to build a decent home for Mzee Ghato. We also furnished it with a four-inch bed, mattress, bed sheets and a blanket so that the Mzee Sefuko Ghato can sleep comfortably,” he said.

Col Walaka thanked the people of Rutshuru territory and the entire North Kivu for accepting UPDF Peace Keepers in their territory. He pledged to work so closely with the civil populace to ensure that total peace and stability return to North Kivu. The construction of the house commenced on Tuesday, May 16 by the UPDF Contingent Engineering Unit.

Mzee Ghato thanked God for the good job done by the UPDF. “Today my dream of getting a permanent house has been fulfilled by UPDF,” said Mzee Sefuko with joy. Capt Kato Ahmad Hassan, the Contingent spokesman said the project is a gesture of appreciation to the community for their tireless co-operation rendered to UGACON while executing the mandate of EACRF in DRC.

The handover was also witnessed by the Contingent Administrative Officer Lt Col Matin Tokwaro Komakech among other Contingent headquarter staff Officers and Men. The project site is approximately 11km from the Bunagana border and 28 kilometers from the Contingent headquarters located in Kiwanja-Nyongera town.