Uganda’s military claims to have killed 242 fighters from the Congolese rebel group CODECO in retaliation for attacks on a Ugandan military post in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week. The rebel group has disputed the figures.
According to Ugandan military spokesperson Chris Magezi, hundreds of CODECO militants attacked a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) post in Fataki, Ituri province, on Wednesday and Thursday. The army responded with force, reportedly killing 31 rebels on the first day and 211 on the second. One UPDF soldier was killed, and four others were wounded.
However, CODECO spokesperson Basa Zukpa Gerson challenged Uganda’s version of events, stating that the group lost only two fighters and that Ugandan casualties were higher. A United Nations source, speaking on condition of anonymity, provided yet another figure, saying 70 rebels and 12 Ugandan soldiers were killed.
Clashes reportedly continued into Saturday morning, according to CODECO and local civil society sources.
CODECO, one of many armed groups in eastern Congo, claims to defend Lendu farmers in their longstanding conflict with Hema herders over land. The region remains a battleground for multiple militias, including Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have escalated their offensive this year.
The broader conflict in eastern Congo is deeply rooted in historical tensions, including the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and ongoing competition for valuable minerals such as tantalum and gold. The area has not seen violence of this scale since the 1998-2003 war, which involved multiple neighboring nations and caused millions of deaths.
Uganda first deployed troops to eastern Congo in 2021 to combat the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel faction linked to the Islamic State. In recent weeks, Ugandan forces moved into northern Ituri to prevent ADF incursions and curb the flow of Congolese refugees into Uganda, Magezi said.