Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has criticized the Wazalendo militias supported by the Congolese government in its war against M23, describing them as dangerous rebel groups.
Muhoozi made these remarks shortly after returning from Kinshasa, where he held talks with President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi.
The visit culminated in a new military cooperation agreement between Uganda’s UPDF and Congo’s FARDC, granting UPDF the authority to launch attacks on armed groups operating in eastern DRC.
Writing on his official X (Twitter) account, Gen. Muhoozi referred to the Wazalendo as a threat and warned that they would be targeted in military strikes unless they surrendered.
“Wazalendo are absolutely evil groups! Believe me, the joint forces of UPDF and FARDC will strike them wherever they are — unless they are wise enough to surrender,” he wrote.
He further accused the Wazalendo of killing civilians, including people living near the DRC–Uganda border.
“We will not wait to confront them. You kill our people, and you will pay for it,” he added.
Praise for Kagame
In a separate post, Gen. Muhoozi reaffirmed his admiration for Rwandan President Paul Kagame, calling him “still my hero,” a message seen as a rebuttal to those speculating that Muhoozi had distanced himself from Rwanda by visiting Kinshasa.
Using a photo of Kagame, he posted:
“He’s still my hero. Long live the love!”
Muhoozi also warned anyone who thinks he had ever disagreed with “his uncle” Paul Kagame:
“If you believe I’ve ever disagreed with my uncle Kagame, may you be sent straight to hell.”
