By Spy Uganda
Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi has donated 10 brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser utility pickup trucks to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) in recognition of the force’s contribution to the ongoing fight against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern DRC.
The vehicles, handed over in Beni on behalf of President Tshisekedi by North Kivu Governor Major General Somo Kakule Evariste, are expected to strengthen the mobility and operational capacity of the joint forces conducting operations against the remaining ADF elements.
The donation is also being seen as a further demonstration of the growing security cooperation between Uganda and the DRC, with both countries working together to restore lasting peace and stability in the troubled eastern region.
Speaking during the handover, Gen Somo said President Tshisekedi highly appreciates the strong cooperation between the governments of Uganda and the DRC and the progress registered through the joint military campaign against the ADF.
The Governor of Ituri also commended the collaboration between the Congolese armed forces, FARDC, and the UPDF, saying their combined operations have contributed significantly to improving security in parts of eastern DRC.
Receiving the vehicles, the Joint Task Force Commander of Operation Shujaa and Commander of the UPDF Mountain Infantry Division, Maj Gen Stephen Mugerwa, thanked President Tshisekedi for the gesture and reaffirmed the commitment of the joint forces to pursue the ADF until the terrorist group is completely defeated.
Operation Shujaa was launched in November 2021 following a series of terrorist bomb attacks in Kampala and subsequent engagements between President Yoweri Museveni and President Tshisekedi that resulted in the establishment of the joint military operation.
Since then, the operation has recorded significant gains in the fight against the ADF, degrading the group’s operational capabilities and disrupting its activities across parts of North Kivu and Ituri.
The joint forces have also neutralised several senior ADF commanders, rescued abductees and helped create conditions for thousands of displaced people to return to their homes.
Beyond the military gains, the improved security situation has allowed schools to reopen in previously affected areas and contributed to the revival of economic activity and cross-border trade between Uganda and the DRC.
Infrastructure development has also progressed alongside the security operations, with strategic roads including Beni–Kasindi, Beni–Biakato, Biakato–Mangina and Luna–Komanda improving movement of people and goods.
The improved road network and security environment have contributed to a sharp increase in cross-border trade, with the number of cargo trucks crossing between Uganda and the DRC rising from about 13,000 per month to more than 30,000.
The development highlights the wider economic impact of Operation Shujaa, with military cooperation increasingly complementing efforts to restore livelihoods, facilitate trade and reconnect communities affected by years of insecurity.
The latest donation of the 10 Land Cruisers therefore comes as both a recognition of the UPDF’s role in the joint campaign and an effort to further strengthen the operational capacity of the forces as they pursue the remaining ADF elements.
Uganda and the DRC have maintained that the joint offensive will continue until the ADF threat is decisively eliminated and lasting peace is restored in eastern DRC.
