Uganda army starts road works in DRC to ease offensive against ADF

KAMPALA, Uganda

The Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) engineering brigade has started opening up impassable roads in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to further pave way for its offensive against the Allied Democratic Front (ADF) rebels.

The road from Mukakati, where the UPDF has set up an operating base is in an appalling state, hampering their advances towards the rebel bases. The Mukakati forward operating base lies in the middle of Ituri forest which is about 18 km from the Uganda-DRC border at Busunga.

About two weeks ago, the UPDF, in a joint operation with DRC forces, launched a series of strikes against ADF militants in neighbouring Congo. The operation is intended to drive the militants out of their bases. This came after a series of terror attacks in different parts of Uganda, all of which were blamed on the ADF.

The construction works were on Friday flagged off by Col James Kasule, the operation commander and Col Gbiabagolo Antionio from the Congolese Defence Forces.

Speaking to journalists in Mukakati, Kasule said that the works will take 2-3 days in which they will have cleared part of the road. Col Antionio said that the joint collaboration with the UPDF is moving on well and is optimistic that the ADF rebels will be no more in the area.

He added that the road is crucial because it will enable the two armies to move deeper in the forests where the ADF has several bases. Maj Peter Mugisa the UPDF spokesperson of the operation added that UPDF through their community engagement initiatives, they have set up places to provide medical services and also clean water points for the locals.