Muhoozi: M23 or UPDF Will Be in Kisangani Within a Week

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and also the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), surprised many people—both inside and outside Uganda—with a bold message about the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

He wrote on his official X (formerly Twitter) account:

This message caused different reactions. Some Ugandans questioned why their country is getting involved in Congo again. Others are worried this could lead to another conflict in the area.

The city Muhoozi mentioned—Kisangani—is a very important place in northeastern Congo. It sits on the Congo River and has a history of war. During the Second Congo War (1998–2003), Ugandan and Rwandan soldiers fought there. Kisangani is also important for trade and transport, so whoever controls it has power.

The M23 group, a rebel movement in eastern DRC, has caused a lot of trouble for years. They have been accused of violence and making the area unstable. Many believe Rwanda supports them, but Rwanda says it does not.

Muhoozi’s post suggests two possibilities: either Uganda is ready to help M23 take control of Kisangani, or if M23 doesn’t succeed, Uganda might send in its own soldiers.

Uganda’s army, the UPDF, has operated in Congo before. In 2021, they joined with Congo’s government in Operation Shujaa to fight a different rebel group called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is linked to Islamist fighters.

But right now, there is no clear evidence that President Museveni has actually given any order for soldiers to enter Kisangani.

Muhoozi is known for posting things online that stir up controversy. For example, in 2022, his tweet about invading Kenya caused diplomatic issues between the two countries.

Whether the Ugandan government will follow through on his recent statement is still unknown. But if either UPDF or M23 moves into Kisangani, the situation in the region could become even more tense and unstable.