Gen. Kainerugaba, MONUSCO Force Commander, discuss security cooperation in eastern DRC

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The Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, this Saturday (November 15) met with Lt Gen. Ulisses De Mesquita Gomes, the Force Commander of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

MONUSCO is a UN peacekeeping force established in 2010, succeeding the earlier MONUC mission. It supports stabilisation and peace consolidation efforts in the DRC and is authorised to protect civilians under imminent threat of violence.

The MONUSCO delegation included Brig. Gen. Givenz Kishombe Sichali, the Force Chief of Staff, and Col Patrick Locatelli, the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations and Plans.

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On the UPDF side, the CDF was joined by the Commander Land Forces, Lt Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, the Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen. Jack Bakasumba, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Maj. Gen. Richard Otto.

Discussions held at the SFC headquarters in Entebbe centred on enhancing security cooperation in eastern DRC, where the UPDF is undertaking operations against the ADF and other terrorist groups.

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The MONUSCO Force Commander acknowledged the UPDF's contribution to regional peace, especially in Eastern DRC, expressing his desire for synchronised cooperation and coordination, including intelligence sharing.

Under the joint Operation Shujaa with Congolese forces (FARDC), ADF and other terrorist groups have been degraded, with the operation receiving praise for restoring normalcy in the once-troubled Eastern DRC.

In response, the CDF appreciated the MONUSCO Force Commander's enthusiasm to work together with the joint forces of UPDF and FARDC to ensure peace in Eastern DRC.

Both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to closer coordination between their forces to counter armed groups and further promote stability in eastern DRC.