The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has shot down claims of civilian killings in Komanda–Eringeti, Eastern DRC, branding them as misinformation likely planted to discredit the ongoing Operation Shujaa a joint offensive against the ADF insurgents.
In a statement dated September 4, UPDF confirmed that while clashes did occur, they took place in Apakwanga, roughly 40 kilometers north of Komanda, and not in Komanda town itself. The army acknowledged the tragic loss of two Ugandan soldiers in an ambush laid by ADF fighters, who have been fleeing their former hideouts under sustained military pressure.
“This was enemy territory a former bastion of ADF warlord Musa Baluku. We dislodged them, and now they are scrambling to stay relevant through scattered attacks,” said a UPDF official.
According to UPDF, the ADF increasingly cornered has turned to reprisal attacks on remote villages and media distortion in a bid to stay visible and sow fear among civilians.
Meanwhile, in Chabi, UPDF-FARDC joint forces struck first, targeting two separate ADF units. Three rebels were killed and three firearms recovered in the lightning operation.
Military intelligence now points to a splinter group of 15–20 ADF fighters regrouping near Oicha, as UPDF and FARDC intensify pursuit missions.
The UPDF emphasized that Operation Shujaa is far from over and the message to the ADF is clear: run, hide, or surrender but you will be found.
“We’re not just dismantling camps. We’re dismantling a system of terror,” the statement added.
Despite the swirling allegations, Uganda insists its mission remains rooted in civilian protection, regional stability, and neutralizing extremist networks in the heart of the Great Lakes region.
