President Paul Kagame and Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, have rejected the latest UN report on DRC conflict, describing it as biased and inaccurate. The report, compiled by a UN-appointed Group of Experts in May, accuses both Uganda and Rwanda of fueling instability in eastern DRC.
The document alleges that Uganda expanded its UPDF presence to 6,000 soldiers—well beyond the 2,000 initially deployed under Operation Shujaa in 2024. Although that operation began as a joint initiative with FARDC to eliminate ADF rebels, the experts say Uganda acted unilaterally in some regions. They cite troop deployments in Mahagi and Djugu territories, which reportedly heightened ethnic tensions.
The UN report on DRC conflict also links Uganda to gold smuggling networks. Experts claim gold mined in Ituri was transported through Aru and Mahagi into Uganda and refined in Kampala. This illicit trade, they argue, inflated Uganda’s export figures and enabled large-scale money laundering.
Additionally, the report mentions two sanctioned Congolese warlords—Thomas Lubanga and Innocent Kaina—who allegedly operated from Kampala. Lubanga, convicted by the ICC for using child soldiers, denied the claims in a press conference. He acknowledged aligning with M23 goals but insisted his group had no Ugandan backing. He also urged regional cooperation, calling for broader inclusion in peace negotiations led by the African Union and other partners.
Gen Muhoozi, in a July 9 post on X (formerly Twitter), dismissed the UN findings. “While the UN so-called Group of Experts writes biased reports against us, we continue to save lives in our region,” he wrote. Muhoozi has publicly supported the Hema community in DRC, and the UN claims his statements may inflame ethnic divisions.
On Rwanda’s side, the UN report on DRC conflict alleges that RDF troops backed M23 offensives. According to the report, RDF occupied strategic areas like Bulenga peninsula and took part in fighting near Goma, Sake, and Mubambiro. Their involvement, the report claims, led to the retreat of Congolese forces and bolstered M23’s territorial gains.
UN experts say Rwanda’s military support helped M23 seize Goma and Bukavu earlier this year. They also accuse Rwanda of violating sanctions by supplying drones, air defense systems, and jamming equipment to the rebels.
As a result, the experts recommend halting all military exports to Rwanda and suspending training programs for RDF forces. They also urge international companies to apply stricter due diligence when buying minerals from the Great Lakes region.
President Kagame, during a press briefing in Kigali on July 4, dismissed the accusations. He criticized the experts for ignoring the role of the FDLR rebel group, which Rwanda views as a threat. “These reports are scripted. They protect actual perpetrators while blaming others,” he said.
Kagame also denied aiding M23 rebels. He claimed they originated from Uganda, not Rwanda. “Why is this not Uganda’s problem?” he asked. “We didn’t start this conflict, and it has nothing to do with us.”
Uganda’s Ambassador to the UN, Adonia Ayebare, also rejected the report’s findings. He promised an official response once the document becomes public. According to Ayebare, the report misquoted Gen Muhoozi and distorted UPDF’s mission in North Kivu.
Controversially, the UN report on DRC conflict used inaccurate images to support some claims. A video said to show soldiers beating civilians in Bukavu was actually from a 2018 incident in Uganda during protests over Bobi Wine’s detention. Another photo of a man with head injuries, allegedly a Congolese shopkeeper, showed Ugandan citizen Hannington Ssewankambo, assaulted during a 2021 protest in Kampala.
This report is due to be presented to the UN Security Council in the coming weeks. Its findings could influence future sanctions or military cooperation decisions. In the past, similar reports have led to restrictions on officials and companies in Uganda and Rwanda.
For now, Kampala and Kigali remain united in rejecting the allegations. Both countries insist that their regional efforts focus on security and peace—not destabilization. However, the political fallout from the UN report on DRC conflict may escalate as the Security Council prepares to deliberate.
Read: Rwanda’s Kagame Criticizes Congo’s Tshisekedi Over Crisis Handling Amid Regional Tensions