Ugandans urge inclusive peace as DR Congo conflict threatens region’s stability
Dr Arthur Bainomugisha, the executive director of the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), stressed the importance of letting the Congolese people take the lead in shaping peace. Quoting the late pan-Africanist scholar Walter Rodney,
Dr Arthur Bainomugisha the executive director Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) addressing participants during the policy dialogue on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo at Skyz Hotel. (Credit: John Odyek)
By John Odyek
Journalists @New Vision
Wilson Kajwengye (Nyabushozi County MP, Mbarara City) addressing participants during the policy dialogue on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo at Skyz Hotel. (Credit: John Odyek) Mugisha Muntu president of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) addressing participants during the policy dialogue on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo at Skyz Hotel. (Credit: John Odyek) Edgar Tabaro, lawyer addressing participants during the policy dialogue on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo at Skyz Hotel. (Credit: John Odyek)
Ugandan civil society leaders and regional experts are calling for renewed and inclusive efforts to end the prolonged conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
They warn that the conflict's destabilising impact threatens peace, trade and democratic progress across the Great Lakes region.
Speaking during a high-level policy dialogue in Kampala on Thursday, June 5, 2025, participants highlighted how the escalating crisis particularly the DR Congo government’s ongoing conflict with the M23 rebel group has strained diplomatic relations, disrupted regional trade and triggered waves of refugees into Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.
Over 133 armed groups operate within the DRC, a sign of the deep-rooted instability that has long defied military interventions and official peace efforts. Despite regional initiatives such as the Nairobi Process under the East African Community (EAC), and support from the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), a lasting solution remains elusive.
Call for locally led peace processes
Dr Arthur Bainomugisha, the executive director of the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), stressed the importance of letting the Congolese people take the lead in shaping peace. Quoting the late pan-Africanist scholar Walter Rodney,
“The Great Lakes region cannot settle when the DRC is burning.”
Bainomugisha criticised external meddling and underscored the need to address root causes ethnic tensions, governance failures, natural resource exploitation and foreign interference while amplifying the role of civil society, academia, the private sector and local communities.
“The current top-down approaches overlook vital voices. Sustainable peace requires inclusivity,” he said. The dialogue, organized by ACODE in partnership with the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), brought together leaders from civil society, government, and academia to explore solutions to the DRC-M23 conflict. It took place at Skyz Hotel on Thursday 5 June 2025.
Regional economic fallout
CSBAG executive director Julius Mukunda warned of the long-term economic costs of the conflict. “The DRC is a major export market for Uganda. Insecurity and broken infrastructure delay the flow of goods and reduce trade. Beyond trade, the human costs and influx of refugees strain national resources.”
Mukunda emphasized that peacebuilding in the DRC should be a top regional priority.
Historical legacies and political failures
Nyabushozi County MP Wilson Kajwengye noted that the DRC’s instability stems from a legacy of colonial exploitation and weak state institutions. “The DRC, bordered by 11 countries, was designed as an open garden for resource extraction. It has never had a strong, functional state,” he said.
Kajwengye acknowledged a renewed international focus following an initiative by U.S. President Donald Trump, which recently prompted dialogue between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
Elite interests and the need for political reform
Lawyer Edgar Tabaro criticized Africa’s ruling elites for perpetuating instability. “When Mobutu ruled, there was at least a functioning state. But since the 1973 citizenship law that excluded certain groups, DRC has spiralled into fragmentation and conflict,” he said.
Tabaro argued that unless the DRC communities are transformed into economically productive and politically stable units, militias will continue to thrive. He cautioned against rushing peace talks without proper groundwork. “There must be ‘talks to prepare for talks,’” he said.
Leadership and vision for a peaceful future
Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) president Mugisha Muntu echoed the need for homegrown solutions and regional collaboration. “The failure in DRC reflects a broader failure of leadership across Africa. Too many elites act in self-interest. We need visionary leadership committed to national and regional stability,” he said.
Muntu pointed to Tanzania's post-independence unity despite its ethnic diversity as a model. “Good governance is about managing complexity with discipline and foresight,” Muntu said.
He emphasized that resolving the conflict in the DRC requires both domestic and regional solutions. He argued that the persistent instability in the DRC reflects a broader failure of leadership across Africa.
“The inability to secure peace in the DRC is a symptom of the parasitic nature of many elites, who prioritize self-interest over the well-being of their people,” Muntu said. “We need a shift in the balance of power toward leaders who are committed to building nations, not exploiting them.”
He further criticized regional organizations for lacking strategic vision. “Institutions like the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) are often at odds, managed by short-term thinkers who fail to grasp the bigger picture. We need a united regional approach grounded in long-term stability and shared prosperity.
Humanitarian crisis overlooked
Juliet Nakato Odoi, a gender and social inclusion specialist, lamented that the plight of Congolese refugees particularly women who face sexual violence remains absent from major policy discussions.
“Rape and abuse during refugee journeys are widespread and underreported. Gender-based violence must be a core part of the peace agenda,” Odoi appealed.