By The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF), working closely with the Regional Immigration Office in Mbarara, has formally transferred five Congolese soldiers to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) at the Kasindi–Lhubiriha border point in Mpwondwe.
According to Maj. Kiconco Tabaro, spokesperson for the UPDF Second Division, the group comprised Sgt. Kabangu Nsingi Jeancy, 33; Cpl. Bloende Botelu Enoch, 35; Pte. Nkonyi Ngumu Mbuya, 26; Pte. Musungu Malu Beni, 22; and Pte. Bakomba Mupepe Exauce, 20.
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The soldiers reportedly fled Goma in Eastern DRC at the peak of intensified clashes earlier this year and drifted toward the Ugandan frontier. They were intercepted by security personnel in the Mukongolo area and later moved to Buhoma Police for verification and security screening.
Maj. Tabaro noted that the UPDF has sheltered the group since July 2025 in line with international humanitarian obligations, especially the requirement to protect and humanely handle foreign military personnel who enter a neighbouring country. He said the soldiers remained in stable condition throughout their stay and did not seek asylum, eventually opting to return home voluntarily.
During the handover ceremony, the Commander of the UPDF Mountain Division, Maj Gen Stephen Mugerwa, emphasized Kampala’s longstanding cooperation with Kinshasa.
“UPDF and FARDC continue to work as dependable partners in safeguarding peace and stability within our region,” he said, describing the exercise as an expression of Uganda’s Pan-African commitment and its adherence to East African and continental security frameworks.
All legal and administrative procedures were completed to facilitate an orderly, safe return of the soldiers.
Receiving the contingent on behalf of the DRC government, North Kivu Military Governor Maj Gen Everiste Somo Kakule thanked the UPDF for the care extended to the troops and lauded the cordial relations between the two national armies.
Also present were Brig Gen Mugisa Muleka Joseph, FARDC Sector Commander for the Northern Frontier, along with immigration officials from both countries.
The repatriation comes at a time when fighting between FARDC, its allied militias, and the M23 rebel group continues to escalate around Goma, Rutshuru, and Masisi territories. The conflict fuelled by shifting alliances and regional security dynamics has displaced thousands and heightened pressure on border communities, underscoring the importance of cross-border military cooperation between Uganda and the DRC.
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