Ugandan Security agencies are investigating circumstances surrounding an aborted attempt by former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila to cross into eastern Congo through Uganda to reach the rebel-held city of Goma.
High-level diplomatic sources confirmed that President Yoweri Museveni personally blocked the plan, citing serious regional diplomatic and security concerns.
Kabila, who is alleged to have close ties with the M23/AFC rebel group currently in control of Goma, had reportedly intended to transit through southwestern Uganda.
However, President Museveni declined to authorize the crossing, warning that the move could jeopardize Uganda’s steadily growing strategic relationship with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi.
Senior Ugandan officials revealed that Museveni was particularly concerned about antagonizing Kinshasa, which has recently become a key regional partner in the fight against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a terrorist group originally rooted in Uganda but long based in eastern Congo.
“Our collaboration with the DRC government is critical for regional stability and national security interests. Allowing Kabila to pass through Ugandan territory en route to a rebel-held city would have raised serious questions,” a security source familiar with the development told UG Exclusive.
Uganda and DRC have over the past three years significantly strengthened bilateral ties. Trade between the two neighbours exceeded $530 million in 2023 and approximately $500 million in informal trade, making the DRC Uganda’s largest export market in the region. Uganda’s exports include cement, sugar, steel, fuel, and agricultural products, while the DRC supplies timber, gold, and raw materials.
The two countries have also undertaken joint infrastructure projects such as the construction of 223km of roads linking Kasindi to Beni and Bunagana to Goma routes, designed to improve trade and facilitate military logistics in anti-insurgency operations.
Since 2021, under “Operation Shujaa,” Uganda has partnered with Congolese forces to conduct coordinated military operations against ADF rebels, which both governments blame for mass killings in Beni and terrorist attacks in Kampala.
Allowing Kabila, who is facing accusations of collaborating with the M23/AFC insurgency, to use Ugandan territory was seen as a direct threat to these gains.
Officials also pointed to President Museveni’s longstanding distrust of Kabila. During his presidency, Kabila was accused of ignoring the ADF’s rise in eastern Congo. Ugandan authorities believe the rebel group found haven under Kabila’s watch, using it as a launchpad for deadly attacks inside Uganda.
“Kabila never helped us fight the terrorists,” said one Ugandan official. “President Museveni doesn’t trust his motives.”
Following the rejection, Kabila is reported to have entered Goma using alternative, less-monitored routes. The move has since triggered concern in Kinshasa, further complicating the former leader’s legal and political standing.
DRC’s Justice Minister, Constant Mutamba, recently announced plans to lift Kabila’s senatorial immunity, paving the way for formal charges related to alleged collaboration with rebel groups and possible asset seizures. Kinshasa views Kabila’s visit to Goma, still under rebel control, as a tacit endorsement of the M23/AFC rebellion.
Kabila has also drawn criticism for co-signing a recent opposition declaration demanding the withdrawal of foreign forces from DRC, a position interpreted by many as a direct jab at Uganda’s presence under Operation Shujaa.
French and Belgian diplomats say Tshisekedi’s administration is now closely monitoring Kabila’s movements, fearing that he could be rallying political support to undermine ongoing peace efforts and stage a potential comeback.
President Museveni’s decision not only reaffirms Uganda’s support for Tshisekedi’s government but also reinforces Kampala’s image as a reliable regional partner in security and trade cooperation.
The move sends a clear message that Uganda will not be drawn into Congo’s internal political struggles and that its national interests, particularly the fight against terrorism and the promotion of cross-border stability, remain paramount.
