The FADRC and UPDF joint forces in DR Congo intercepted a shipment of Ugandan army uniforms destined for DR Congo.(IMAGE: Courtesy | theKR Media)

According to a report by ChimpReports, two UPDF soldiers were injured in an ambush by rebels in the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (EAC) 1. The incident occurred at around 10:00 am and the soldiers were admitted in critical condition at the UPDF field hospital in Bunagana 1. The injured UPDF soldiers were later transferred to Kisoro Regional Referral Hospital for better medical care 1. The UPDF is now investigating the identities of the attackers 

It is suspected that M23 rebels conducted today’s ambush. However, Brig Felix Kulayigye, an army spokesperson, quickly dismissed the claim that M23 was behind today’s ambush, saying, “They are not co-located with us. We are occupying areas they vacated” 

East African leaders earlier this year deployed the East African Regional Force (EACRF) to facilitate the disarmament and cantonment of militia groups operating in eastern DRC. The troop-contributing countries are Burundi, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. Following the deployment of EACRF, M23 handed over some of its territories to EACRF. However, the DRC government said the M23 rebels later reclaimed some areas they previously controlled 

UPDF soldiers returned fire as soon as they came under attack by the rebels. “Of course, we responded to the attack and the rebels, who were about 6 in number in a banana plantation, fled,” said Kulayigye