242 militias killed in DR Congo, one UPDF senior officer succumbs

FATAKI - The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on Friday announced a successful operation where they repelled an attack by Cooperative for Development of the Congo (CODECO) militias in Fataki, eastern DR Congo. 

The acting director of defence public information, Col Chris Magezi, said the heavily armed militias sustained heavy losses when they launched a two-day assault on a UPDF Battle Group stationed in the region, aiming to dislodge the force. 

The attacks, which took place on March 18 and 19, were repelled with significant losses for the CODECO group. 

On Wednesday, 31 militants were killed in action and on Thursday morning, an additional 211 were neutralised. The UPDF lost one soldier, with four others injured. 

The injured soldiers were evacuated to Uganda for medical treatment and all are expected to recover. 

The New Vision has learnt that Col David Mululi Byaruhanga, the commander of the 409 Brigade based at Bondo Barracks in Arua district, was the senior officer who passed away. 

Col. Byaruhanga died last Friday at Nakasero Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment. Independent sources from the Ituri region have reported that clashes resumed on Saturday morning, March 22, between the UPDF and the CODECO militia in the village of Bethlehem, in the Fataki region, north of Bunia, in the Djugu territory, in Ituri. 

“This resurgence of fighting comes after two days of calm. Explosions of heavy and light weapons were heard since early Saturday morning in the Fataki and Djaiba regions, approximately 80km from Bunia. Local sources indicate that the troops remaining in Bethlehem were surprised by gunfire from CODECO militiamen after a local youth was attacked by unidentified armed bandits on the Arr-Budhu section of the road at night,” according to an independent report by UN sources. 

The latest report also stated that local civilians also cited scenes of vehicle looting on the RN 27 by militiamen, which led to a temporary interruption of traffic on this road, specifically on the Gbakalu-Libi axis. A high concentration of people is observed in Djaiba and around the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) military base,” according to the UN. 

The UPDF has been stationed in the region for several weeks to prevent the infiltration of ADF remnants, who are under pressure from joint UPDF and Armed Forces of the DR Congo (FARDC) forces conducting Operation Shujaa. 

According to Magezi, CODECO militias, who recently formed an alliance with the ADF, have intensified violent attacks in Ituri Province, particularly targeting the Hema ethnic group. 

The CODECO’s brutal attacks have led to numerous massacres, with hundreds of Hema civilians, mainly women and children, killed and entire villages burnt, looted and destroyed. 

The army spokesperson noted that the UPDF’s presence in Fataki, along with deployments in nearby towns, such as Bunia and Mahagi, had been a relief for local communities, who have long suffered under the violent actions of Lendu and allied militias.

Col Byaruhanga's fact file  

Col David Mululi Byaruhanga, who was in charge of the command of 405 Brigade, served in the Karamoja sub-region where he was described as a dynamic commander with reckonable years of combat experience since his first deployment to the sub-region in 1986. 

Last year in December, Byaruhanga was reassigned to the 501 Infantry Brigade, based at Palaro Army Barracks under the Fourth Infantry Division. 

As Brigade Commander, he stepped in to mediate the peace process between Acholi and Madi community leaders in a bid to end the decades-long conflict over Apaa land, which has led to bloodshed and destruction. 

On February 17, Col Byaruhanga urged leaders from both sides to embrace dialogue. 

On March 10, Col Byaruhanga took over command of the 409 Brigade in Bondo, Arua district, from Col Nathan Bainomugisha, who assumed leadership of the 501 Brigade in Palaro, Amuru district.