By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has drawn sharp criticism for the deployment of 5,000 UPDF troops in DRC.
John Kikonyogo, the deputy spokesperson of the FDC tasked parliament to explain to the country the benefits of deploying national armed forces in DRC.
“We demand to hear from parliament, how does Uganda benefit from these deployments in Congo, especially after the country annually spending tax payers’ money to deploy and maintain these illegal troops in Congo?” Kikonyogo told journalists at Najjanankumbi on Monday.
Last week, the Commander of Land Forces, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, flagged off the soldiers to Congo under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).
Lt Gen. Kayanja said the deployment is to implement the decisions of the 20th extraordinary summit of the East African Community heads of State in which they resolved that each contributing country to the EACRF deploy troops to Eastern DRC on creating peace in the North Kivu.
“Unlike the Shujaa Operation on the other side of the DR Congo where we directly attack the enemy, the mission here is to witness a process of achieving peace in Rutshuru Territory and the neighbouring areas in the North Kivu Province in the DR Congo. We are deploying about 5,000 soldiers,” Lt Gen Muhanga said.
However, the FDC posits that Uganda is overspending taxpayer’s money on Congo without clear benefits. This follows the February 2022, decision by the UN top court inwhich it ordered Uganda to pay DRC $325m in reparations over a brutal war where Congo accused Ugandan army of stealing their resources between 1997 and 1998. In September same year, Uganda paid the first installment of the war reparation.
“It’s true we have paid $65m as the first instalment,” finance ministry spokesman Apollo Munghinda said on Monday. The payment was made on September 1, he added.
In the same year, Uganda also earmarked Shs 90b which was spent on Operation Shujaa – the UPDF troops in DRC to fight Allied Defence Forces (ADF) that had been terrorising Kampala and some parts of Uganda.
The previous year (2021) Uganda also launched a plan to build 223km of roads in DRC. Government said the $330m project is to improve trade between the two countries.
According to the FDC, this reckless expenditures has dragged the country into accumulating debts. They suggest that the two governments enter negotiations on the debt which Uganda owe Congo vis-a-vis with military support extended to the latter.
“We invest all this money to go to Zaire but what do we gain in return. How can we pacify Congo using our money and get nothing in return?” Kikonyogo said. These are the people owing us money and they are demanding us to pay them. What kind of friend is that one you help everyday but when you have his debt he takes you to court and even brings court brokers to take money from you by force? he added.
Background
In March last year, fighting erupted between the M23 rebels and the Congolese government forces, and the former gained control of several parts in Rutshuru territory in North Kivu, capturing Bunagana and Kitagoma border posts with Uganda in Kisoro District.
The fighting has also led to more than 70,000 Congolese refugees fleeing the area to Uganda and settled in Kisoro district.
