CDF Muhoozi threatens to invade Bunia, a town in eastern Congo

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the head of Uganda’s defense forces, stated in a post on X on Saturday that unless “all forces” in the neighboring eastern Congo give up their weapons within 24 hours, Uganda will invade the town of Bunia.

Kainerugaba claimed to have the authority of President Yoweri Museveni, who is also his father. Kainerugaba has a history of making controversial posts about foreign policy. A military spokesman for Uganda stated that he was unable to comment on the situation.

Kainerugaba had claimed earlier on Saturday that members of the Bahima ethnic group were being murdered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but he had not offered any supporting documentation.

“The Bahima, my people, are under attack. The scenario for those who are assaulting my people is extremely perilous. “No one on this planet can murder my people and expect to escape punishment,” he declared.

He stated in a different tweet that “Bunia will soon be in UPDF hands,” alluding to the Uganda People’s Defense Force.

On the fringes of an African Union conference on Saturday, Congo’s prime minister, Judith Suminwa, told Reuters that her government had “no comment to make” about Kainerugaba’s comments.

Concerns that a battle between Congolese forces and M23 rebels supported by Rwanda may turn into a larger regional warfare have been heightened by the warning from Uganda’s senior military leader, who is generally seen as Museveni’s successor apparent.

After capturing Goma, the largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the end of last month, the rebels have now taken control of Bukavu, the second-largest city, according to an M23 leader on Friday.

Earlier in February, Reuters reported, citing U.N. sources, that Uganda had sent over 1,000 more troops to eastern Congo as part of an operation to aid Congo in its fight against Islamist extremists.
But according to U.N. experts, Uganda has also supported the M23, which is commanded by ethnic Tutsis.

“SENDING A MESSAGE”

Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, has refuted claims that Rwandan military are fighting alongside M23, and Kainerugaba has openly backed him.

Kainerugaba called M23 “brothers of ours” in 2022 for their efforts to defend Tutsi rights in Congo.

The postings, according to observers, were intended to convey Uganda’s geopolitical and commercial interests in the Ituri province of Congo, which has Bunia as its capital.

Reuters was informed by Kristof Titeca, a lecturer at the University of Antwerp, that Uganda appears to be conveying a message that it is asserting “its territory.”

“All of this is concerningly similar to 1998 and the Second Congolese war, when there was a similar division of territory among Uganda and Rwanda.”

Kainerugaba frequently publishes contentious things on social media, such as threatening to attack neighboring Kenya in 2022.

Kainerugaba declared last month that he intended to decapitate Bobi Wine, the most well-known opposition figure in Uganda. He eventually expressed regret for the threat, and he occasionally claims that certain posts are sarcastic.