POLITICS | MAO | UPDF 

KAMPALA - Democratic Party president Norbert Mao has backed the Government's move to deploy the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) in DR Congo to help fight the suspected terror group of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

Mao poured cold water on the opinion by the Opposition MPs led by Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality) that Ugandan army needed Parliament's permission to enter DRC and support its troops in flushing out ADF.

'I believe this (discussion about deploying UPDF in DRC) should be led by the Speaker; not the Ssemujjus, but it doesn't relate to Article 124 (of the Constitution),' Mao, who is a lawyer by profession and former MP, said.

He made the remarks while featuring on one of the evening television talk-shows in Kampala on December 2.

'Article 124 of the Constitution says Parliament has to approve when declaring war on another State. Definitely, what is happening in Congo is not a war on a State,' Mao contended.

He said if you have a small house, sometimes you have to guard it by sleeping outside it, sometimes without your neighbor's permission.

'You will be criticized, but it is better than being dead,' he remarked.

Mao noted that 'reckless talk of the opposition is met by the arrogance of the power of the government'.

'This is not helpful for our country,' he said.

On the same show, ICT minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi said they are satisfied that no law has been broken in the ongoing operations against ADF.

'At an appropriate time, Parliament will be briefed. The ADF do not have a partisan lens. We should all support the attack on them,' Baryomunsi said.

Ssemujju had earlier on the show said their issue is the deployment of the Ugandan army outside Uganda.

'It happened in Somalia, South Sudan and now Congo. That must happen with Parliament's authorisation,' Ssemujju, who is also Forum for Democratic Change party spokesman, said.

'I have said the pursuit of the ADF is legitimate, but we are saying you have to account. When you go there, stick to what has taken you there,' he added.

On Thursday, the Special Forces of the Armed Forces of the DRC supported by the Special Units of the UPDF issued a joint statement saying they had continued with search operations in the area that they shelled at dawn on November 30, 2021.

The airstrikes targeted ADF positions in North Kivu and the neighbouring Ituri province to the northeast.

These areas have for long been a cradle of rebel activity.

The ADF is now affiliated with the Islamic State, a radical Sunni Islamic military group that claimed responsibility for the recent twin bombings in central Kampala which left seven people dead and over 36 injured.

The attacks happened just outside the Central Police Station and along Parliament Avenue.

On Thursday, Parliament gave the Government up to Tuesday next week to brief it on the operations.