Handover and takeover ceremony at UPDF airforce

 Deputy Commander of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Air Force, Maj Gen David Isimbwa, has called on young officers to maintain discipline and focus as they continue honing their aviation skills.

He emphasised that these qualities are crucial for the continued strength and professionalism of Uganda’s Air Force.

Speaking at a handover and takeover ceremony at the Air Force Wing headquarters in Bardege, Gulu, Maj Gen Isimbwa presided over the official transfer of command from Col Franco Ogwang and his deputy, Lt Col Nathan Abaho, to Col D. Opolot and Maj Assy Byoruganda. “The future of Uganda’s Air Force lies in disciplined, well-trained young officers who are ready to take on the challenges of modern military aviation,” Maj Gen Isimbwa stated.

He commended the outgoing commanders for their effective leadership and professionalism, noting their contributions to mentorship, technical training, and instilling discipline among personnel. He also praised the 4 Division Air Force Wing for its efforts in nurturing future aviators and enhancing Uganda’s airpower capacity.

Maj Gen Isimbwa extended gratitude to the UPDF and Air Force leadership for their strategic commitment to talent development in aviation. He noted that this focus had elevated Uganda’s presence in regional and international aviation and security platforms.

In his message to young officers, Maj Gen Isimbwa encouraged them to remain focused on their responsibilities and avoid being distracted by impatience or external pressure. “Don’t be desperate,” he advised. “Just concentrate on what you have been given to do in the context of progress.”

He warned against acts of indiscipline such as fuel theft, alcoholism, and gambling, stressing that such behaviour not only jeopardises careers but also tarnishes the reputation of the UPDF Air Force.

Outgoing deputy commander Lt Col Nathan Abaho, who is set to attend a senior command and staff course in Egypt, expressed appreciation for the chance to serve. He urged his successor to uphold the values of discipline, teamwork, hard work, and dedication.

The incoming commanders thanked the UPDF leadership for entrusting them with their new responsibilities. They pledged to advance the Air Force Wing’s mission and to work closely with their teams in achieving operational goals.

The ceremony was attended by senior and junior officers, reflecting the significance of the leadership transition within the UPDF Air Force Wing.

Senior UPDF officers at Kimaka are privileged to engage with H.E. President Museveni, the President and Commander-in-Chief, as he delivers a Lecture of Opportunity—shaping the strategic minds of Uganda’s military leadership.

 

Pictorial from a two-day retreat for all Regional Police Commanders, Divisional, and District Police Commanders at Police Headquarters in Naguru.

 

Did M23 execute people in Manzinzi????

 

17 civilians were summarily executed by AFC/M23 rebels on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at around 6:30 p.m. in Walungu territory, the FARDC reported.

In a statement, the army stated that this summary execution took place in the town of Munzinzi, in the Ngweshe chiefdom. Several houses were also burned.

Wazalendo issue a retaliatory statement on General Muhoozi's tweet

In a statement issued from Uvira on June 23, 2025, the Wazalendo Coordination of Eastern DRC firmly rejects the comments attributed to Ugandan General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, calling their movement a "negative force."

The Wazalendo reiterate that they are Congolese citizens voluntarily engaged in the defense of national sovereignty against armed threats, in accordance with the Constitution. They denounce any attempt to equate them with any form of insecurity and reiterate that their action stems from the violence suffered by the DRC for decades.

Their coordination calls for respect for the right of peoples to defend themselves against aggression, while reaffirming their commitment to the leadership of the Congolese Head of State.

The fight for Congolese sovereignty continues, they affirm, with determination and a sense of duty. 

Former MP of Kisangani arrested!

 

Former Kisangani MP Samuel Simene wa Simene, former Deputy Minister of Finance, former Deputy Director General of the Directorate General of Finance (DGDA), former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foreign Trade Single Window, and currently an advisor to the Ministry of Finance, was arrested at his home overnight from Saturday to Sunday by heavily armed men.

Paul Kagame Absent:Why all these rumours that the iron man of EAC is dead?Is it the first time for people to spread rumours that he is dead?

 

For several days, shockwaves have been sweeping through Rwanda and the Great Lakes region of Africa. Persistent rumors of the critical health, or even death, of President Paul Kagame are circulating widely on social media and some regional media outlets. This unprecedented situation has plunged the country into a climate of uncertainty, exacerbated by the total lack of official communication. How can this disturbing silence from the Rwandan authorities be explained?

The starting point of this information crisis lies in the sudden disappearance of the head of state from the public sphere. His official Twitter account, usually active, no longer displays any recent posts. Rwandan public media, normally quick to report on his activities, have observed an unusual silence. This media vacuum has created fertile ground for the most extravagant speculation. Some unverified sources suggest an emergency hospitalization in Germany, while others claim that a successor has already been discreetly appointed.

Disinformation is reaching worrying levels with the resurgence of old denials presented as current evidence. Videos dating back several years, in which Kagame previously denied similar rumors about his health, are being shared out of context. This manipulation contributes to further clouding perceptions of events. On the streets of Kigali and in neighboring capitals, concern is growing in the face of this information vacuum. Presidential health, a traditionally taboo subject in Rwanda, is suddenly becoming a matter of public debate.

This crisis comes at a sensitive geopolitical moment for the region. Rwanda, under Kagame's leadership, plays a key role in the stability/instability of Central Africa. His possible disappearance from the political scene raises crucial questions about the continuity of power and regional balances.

The complex relations between Kigali and Kinshasa, marked by recurring tensions, could enter a phase of heightened uncertainty. International observers are closely monitoring the situation, aware of the potential implications for regional security.

The lack of a formal denial from the Rwandan authorities raises questions. Traditionally quick to counter fake news, official channels remain strangely silent this time. This silence naturally fuels the darkest theories. A political analyst based in Goma points out: "In a country where information is strictly controlled, this communication gap is perceived as a worrying signal by the population." The rumor of Paul Kagame's death thus reveals the fragility of African political systems in the face of information storms.

Behind this affair looms a broader issue: the fight against disinformation in Africa. Social platforms, lacking effective verification mechanisms in local languages, are becoming amplifying sources of rumors. This situation illustrates the challenge posed by the health of African leaders, often shrouded in secrecy. When will we see greater transparency on these issues, which are crucial to democratic stability?

At this stage, there is no tangible evidence to support the allegations of the death or serious illness of the Rwandan president. Speculation about brain cancer or other pathologies remains conjectural. However, the political cost of this silence is growing heavier every day. The credibility of Rwandan institutions is being tested, while the population vacillates between concern and skepticism. This affair is a painful reminder of how a lack of transparency can weaken even the most established regimes.

The ball is now in the court of the authorities in Kigali. Only a public appearance or a clear official statement will be able to put an end to this collective psychosis. In the meantime, the international community is watching, aware that the future of an entire nation could be at stake in this communication crisis. The episode raises a fundamental question: in the digital age, can a government still control information when the head of state suddenly disappears from the media?

Posts faking the death of H E Kagame

I think RDF should clear air on this!

M23 and Wazalendo clash in Nyanzale

  

The security situation remains tense in the town of Nyanzale, in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu, where new fighting erupted this Sunday afternoon, June 22, between local Wazalendo fighters and AFC-M23 rebels, abruptly ending the lull observed in the morning. Intense crossfire was heard throughout the town, sowing panic among residents.

According to intelligence  collections from local sources, civilians, who had just returned to their homes in Nyanzale after a period of displacement, barricaded themselves in their homes, fearing major fighting.

Witnesses reported the presence of Wazalendo (VDP) fighters in the surrounding area, while M23 rebels are increasing their attempts to regain control of the neighboring village of Kiyeye, in the Kihondo groupement.

Earlier in the day, the Wazalendo of the CMC movement issued a statement denouncing a shelling attack on several towns, including Nyarubande, Burambo, Muhanga, Kihondo-centre, and Kiyeye, which occurred on Saturday. They announced their intention to respond quickly to what they described as a provocation.

other clashes  reportedly took place in the vicinity of Katsiru, pitting the same protagonists: M23 and Wazalendo.

The provisional death toll from Saturday's attack is two civilians killed in Kihondo-centre, a man and a woman, and ten houses burned in Nyarubande, in the Bwito chiefdom, according intelligence  sources.

Afande Muhoozi in Kinshasha sign a revised new hunt for the ADF terrorists

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, commander of the Ugandan army and son of President Museveni, arrived in Kinshasa this Friday. With the agenda for  signing of the revised memorandum of understanding for Operation Shujaa is scheduled for Saturday with his Congolese counterpart, General Jules Banza of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to our intelligence collections from Kinshasha,The Ugandan army chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba is expected to sign the revised memorandum of understanding for Operation Shujaa with his counterpart from the DRC armed forces, Jules Banza, on Saturday, on Friday, June 20.

According to intelligence sources,a three-day joint meeting between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) opened in Kinshasa as we learned from military sources.

The meeting focuses on revising the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing joint military operations in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, as part of the fight against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Experts from both armies are reviewing existing technical arrangements and are expected to finalize a report, which will be signed on Saturday. This is the first meeting between Lieutenant General Jules Banza Mwilambwe, Chief of the General Staff of the FARDC, and General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Commander of the UPDF and son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who arrived in Kinshasa as part of the assessment of Operation Shujaa.

The discussions also addressed the need to rehabilitate and continue construction of the Kasindi-Beni-Kisangani road.

Launched on November 30, 2021, Operation Shujaa is a joint military initiative of the FARDC and the UPDF aimed at neutralizing the ADF, a group accused of massacres of civilians in the DRC and attacks in Uganda. Several ADF strongholds have been dismantled since the operation began, notably between the villages of 47 and Kota-Okola, near Mamove.

In May 2024, the two armies had already carried out a joint assessment, noting partial successes in the fight against terrorist groups.

In a video reporting on the conclusions of the work on the memorandum of understanding related to the hunt for Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) jihadists in North Kivu (East) and Ituri (Northeast), it was announced that the signing will take place on Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Kinshasa, by the two chiefs of staff of the two countries' armed forces.

Viva UPDF....Viva FARDC.........

PRELIMINARY PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN KINSHASA AND KIGALI: Will the fruits live up to the promise of the flowers?

Under the auspices of the United States, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda initialed a peace agreement in Washington on June 18, with the official signing scheduled for June 27.

This preliminary agreement was reached after several days of intensive dialogue and behind-the-scenes negotiations between experts from both countries, meeting in Uncle Sam's country, under the watchful eye of U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. It marks an important step in the search for peace and solutions to their ongoing conflict. This preliminary agreement is, to say the least, an important step in the process of rapprochement between Kinshasa and Kigali.

If the Agreement is officially signed, it would be a decisive step in the search for peace.

This is all the more true given that, aside from the Doha summit on March 18th, which brought together Presidents Félix Tshilombo and Paul Kagame alongside the Emir of Qatar, no high-level meeting has been held that brought together experts from these two countries in direct discussions.

The aim was to find a compromise to resolve the crisis and lay the foundations for lasting peace in this conflict that is poisoning the atmosphere between Kinshasa and Kigali and has already left many victims on the ground. This preliminary agreement is all the more a source of hope for a de-escalation between the two neighbors, given that no mediation has so far succeeded in making them smoke the peace pipe.

In any case, there is reason for hope. Because, following the official signing of this agreement scheduled for a week from now, according to some sources, a summit meeting between the two heads of state is looming in the very near future, in the presence of the White House occupant himself, President Donald Trump. This shows how encouraging the signs are.

Be that as it may, in the interest of efficiency and consistency in international efforts, Qatar was involved in the Washington discussions, where Doha participated as an observer. This also shows how everything is being done in advance to ensure a successful outcome of this initiative. The question that arises is whether the fruits of this preliminary agreement will live up to the promise... of the hopes raised. This question is all the more valid because, until the official agreement is signed, anything remains possible in this conflict, where the protagonists have accustomed us to twists and turns amidst delaying tactics and missed opportunities.

This is why we're keeping our fingers crossed, hoping that the June 27th deadline will be met. Because misunderstandings can easily arise if yet another event, or even a third, disruptive event, does not jeopardize the ongoing process. In any case, if the Agreement is officially signed, it would be a decisive step in the search for peace in this conflict that threatens the stability of the entire Great Lakes region.

If the process were to reach a successful conclusion, it would be a diplomatic victory for Trump.

This region has long been shaken by decades of armed conflict amid rivalries and disagreements between neighboring countries. In any case, if the process were to reach a successful conclusion, it would be a diplomatic victory for President Donald Trump, who would undoubtedly reap the political dividends. Even if the contrast between his image as a peacemaker between the DRC and Rwanda and his attitude of blind support for Israel in the merciless war that the Jewish state has unleashed against Iran remains striking. But such is the way of the world. Only interests guide the way.

And it's all the more understandable that the United States is investing in the Congolese issue, doing everything it can to reconcile the two antagonistic presidents, given that, upstream, Washington was engaged in negotiations aimed at making its assistance in securing eastern DRC conditional on easy access to the rare minerals that provide all the wealth of this vast Central African country.

In any case, now that the process is underway, the key is to reach an agreement. And everything suggests that Donald Trump holds all the cards to achieve this. Will peace in the DRC then come through Washington? It's a wait-and-see situation.

UPDF leaders visit NLM at Murindi in Gicumbi

 

A group of Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) leaders visited the National Liberation Museum located at Mulindi w Intwari in Gicumbi District, where they were briefed on the history of the Rwandan liberation struggle.

Rwanda national police closes a training for senior officers

 The rwanda national police College located in musanze district will host the closing ceremony of the 13th batch of the one-year Police Senior Command and Staff Course, consisting of 34 students at the level of Senior Officers from nine African countries.

DRC files a complaint against Rwanda

WHAT IS THIS LETTER?

This is an official notice from the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, informing us that it will render a judgment in a case between the DRC and Rwanda.

WHAT IS THIS CASE?

The DRC filed a complaint against Rwanda before the African Court because of:

Rwandan aggression through the M23,

massacres, looting, population displacement, and other serious human rights violations in eastern Congo.

PURPOSE OF THE LETTER:

The Court announces that it will soon decide whether:

1. It has jurisdiction to hear this case between the DRC and Rwanda.

2. The DRC's complaint is admissible (i.e., does it meet the rules for being heard).

This is not yet the final judgment, but it is a very important step that could pave the way for an international trial against Rwanda.

WHEN WILL THE DECISION TAKE PLACE?

June 26, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (Arusha time)

From the seat of the Court in Arusha, Tanzania

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Because for the first time, an African international institution may recognize that Rwanda is committing crimes in the DRC.

FARDC massively recruiting and trainings in Nyaleke

Since the beginning of this week, accelerated military training for recruits in the Reserve for the Defense of the Homeland (RADP) has effectively begun at the Nyaleke Training Center, located about ten kilometers from the city of Beni, in North Kivu.

Open to all segments of the population, including traders, students, former Mai-Mai militiamen, and members of the Wazalendo, this intensive training is scheduled to last 45 days.

According to local sources around the training camp,upon completion of the training, each recruit will receive a certificate, a registration number, and will be able to begin receiving an incentive bonus.

Among the first waves of recruits, two former national parliamentarians (2018-2024) were notable: Tembos Yotama and Mathieu Mathe, who joined the process as a sign of patriotism.

DRC army acquires more than 100 Kasser II armoured vehicles

 

The Congolese army is strengthening its arsenal with more than a hundred UAE-designed Kasser II armored vehicles.

The Kasser II are mine-resistant, ambush-resistant armored vehicles (MRAPs) designed for transporting troops over hostile terrain.

According to military intelligence sources from Kinshasha,this capacity building is part of a military strategy aimed at strengthening the FARDC's capabilities to address modern security challenges.

Violent clashes around Bukavu,Wazalendo claims sorrounding the city.

According  to our confidant sources in Bukavu,tViolent clashes were reported this Thursday around Bukavu. Other intelligence  collections indicate that the city is  surrounded by young Wazalendo patriots. A citizens' movement is calling on the M23 rebels to withdraw from Bukavu to avoid a bloodbath. "They are more than determined to retake the city within 48 hours, but they have also already surrounded the surroundings of Bukavu," this organization warns.

According our good source close to M23,they swear that nothing will push them out of Bukavu and cannot loose any liberated land whether in North or south kivu.

Delegation of experts from Rwanda and DRC are meeting in Washington!

 

According to our open source intelligence (OSINT),A Delegations of experts from the DRC and Rwanda, meeting in Washington under the auspices of American mediation, are moving toward a preliminary agreement in the peace negotiations, according to several sources close to the matter.

A document is to be submitted to the foreign ministers of both countries for review and approval, before being presented to the heads of state for possible signature. "This progress marks a significant step toward resolving tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, although challenges remain to ensure lasting peace," the same sources say.

Using this news, which is described as a breakthrough, I am very concerned because, in my opinion, this looks like a roundabout way of talking. I heard that this same document was supposed to be signed on the 15th, but both parties have remained calm about it.

Major general Mandevu holds a meeting in mahagi annd clears misinformation on clms by Congolese media that UPDF captured mahagi airstrip

 DRC army On a mission to Mahagi, the FARDC Ituri operational sector commander, Major General Bruno Mandevu, clears up the misunderstanding about the occupation of Zale airfield by Ugandan troops.

This senior officer of the armed forces chaired a joint FARDC-UPDF meeting before conducting a raid on this strategic site, Mahagi airfield, which is under the control of the armed forces.