The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party has thanked the government of Uganda over the deployment of UPDF in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), saying it will restore peace, spur trade, and build infrastructure for the region.
FDC claims that if the UPDF wipes out rebel activities in eastern DRC, it will therefore cause a huge economic transformation through trading networks that can link Uganda’s goods to the centre of Congo, hence leading to the development of two countries.
Speaking to the media on Monday, March 3rd, the Deputy FDC Spokesperson, John Kikonyogo, explained that it is public knowledge that the UPDF has deployed troops to the Congo, which will create networks of economic exchange that are connecting the Congo to Eastern African markets.
UPDF He said military control in the areas occupied by rebels will create access to Congo’s roads, markets, and resources, hence leading to infrastructure development in the Great Lakes region.
“We call up the government of Uganda through the UPDF under Operation Shuja to work hand in hand with DRC authorities to bring peace in the eastern part of Congo so that peace can prevail and trade can resume widely,” said the Deputy FDC spokesperson.
In his statement, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga says that the UPDF has gone to stabilise some parts of Congo, specifically Goma.
He stressed that during the ongoing Operation Shujaa, the government could have used approximately Shs 90 billion, but in case the UPDF stabilises Eastern DRC, Uganda can receive more than Shs 500 billion in revenue through the border crossings with Congo.
“We believe UPDF, in tandem with the United Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) and FARDC, will weed out all elements of criminality with the purpose of creating peace and harmony in the region,” he advised.
The Ugandan contingent of the EACRF officially occupied the areas of Bunagana in North Kivu Province on Sunday after M23 left the area, Ahmad Hassan Kato, the military spokesperson for the Ugandan contingent, said in a statement.
“Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have deployed in the general areas of Bunagana where they have set up a foothold as they give M23 time to also vacate the general areas of Rutshuru, Kiwanja, and Mabenga as agreed,” said Kato.
The deployment followed the decision endorsed and adopted by regional leaders at the third East African Community Heads of State Conclave on Peace and Security in the Eastern DRC, held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi last June.
Ugandan troops joined their Kenyan, Burundian, and Angolan counterparts on the ground to bring lasting peace to the eastern DRC.
Uganda has other troops in the eastern DRC in a joint military operation with the Congolese army against the Allied Democratic Forces rebels.