By Spy Uganda
Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has demanded that the government clarify Uganda’s diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), citing a series of unresolved issues.
These include the DRC’s refusal to accredit Uganda’s ambassador, its failure to reciprocate Uganda’s visa waiver for Congolese nationals, and the ongoing payment of UGX 1.3 trillion in reparations for Uganda’s past involvement in resource plundering.
Speaking during the January 28, 2025, plenary session, Ssenyonyi expressed concern over how the recent M23 rebel capture of Goma town might impact Uganda-DRC relations. He noted that the DRC government has previously accused Uganda of supporting M23, allegations Uganda has denied.
“There is a brewing conflict in Eastern DRC. DRC is our neighbor, and there are many Ugandans there. What is happening concerns us as a country. For about four years, our ambassador to DRC, Farid Kaliisa, hasn’t been accredited. While Uganda waived visa fees for DRC nationals, the DRC hasn’t done the same for us. It appears we have a frosty relationship, and with the ongoing conflict, the situation is even more alarming,” Ssenyonyi said.
He also demanded an update on the security situation at Uganda’s border with DRC, emphasizing the need for clarity on the status of Ugandans currently in the conflict zone.
Gov’t Responds to Embassy Attack
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa assured Parliament that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already sought space on the Order Paper to brief MPs on Uganda’s diplomatic stance, even before Ssenyonyi’s request.
This came after reports emerged that protesters in Kinshasa had set fire to Uganda’s embassy, alongside those of Rwanda, Kenya, France, and the United States, in response to M23’s advance.
“I was on a call with the Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, John Mulimba. He requested space on the Order Paper to bring a statement updating us on the situation, particularly following today’s attack on our embassy,” Tayebwa said.
The attack on Uganda’s embassy in Kinshasa comes just eight months after Uganda House in Kenya was vandalized during the May 2024 protests.
According to Auditor General Edward Akol’s December 2024 report, the damages from that incident totaled UGX 7.2 billion, and Uganda risks losing UGX 1.8 billion in annual revenue due to delays in repairs.
CDF Blamed for Escalating Tensions
Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju blamed the embassy attack on the controversial remarks of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Muhoozi Kainerugaba, accusing him of making provocative statements about DRC.
“The reckless tongue of our CDF is putting Uganda in danger. He recently expressed support for M23, and we nearly got expelled from Congo. Now, Uganda’s embassy has been burned. When we raised concerns about his statements, some MPs dismissed them as jokes. This was bound to happen,” Ssemujju said.
He also called for a government update on Uganda’s investments in DRC, particularly the ongoing road construction project linking the two countries. “We have invested in roads linking Uganda to Eastern DRC. Meanwhile, we are paying UGX 1 trillion in reparations for looted resources. Can the Minister for Regional Cooperation update us on these investments?” he added.
Costly Road Project in DRC
Ssemujju’s demand comes amid mounting scrutiny over Uganda’s road construction project in DRC, which Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) flagged in September 2024 for suspected financial mismanagement.
The committee discovered that Dott Services Limited had received an extra UGX 124.5 billion for work that was never done, while the project’s per-kilometer cost had surged to UGX 8.5 billion.
According to PAC Chairperson Muwanga Kivumbi, the project’s total cost is expected to reach US$509 million (UGX 1.7 trillion) for 222 kilometers, a figure deemed excessive. “Only 17% of the work has been completed, yet the Government of Uganda has already overpaid by US$33.6 million (UGX 124.5 billion),” Kivumbi noted.
Ongoing Reparations to DRC
Uganda continues to make annual payments of US$65 million (UGX 287 billion) in reparations to DRC, following a February 2022 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The court ordered Uganda to pay a total of US$325 million (UGX 1.192 trillion) over five years for damages caused during the UPDF’s 1990s incursions into DRC. The breakdown of payments includes:
- US$225 million for damage to persons
- US$40 million for damage to property
- US$60 million for looted resources
Despite these payments, Uganda has maintained a military presence in Eastern DRC, launching joint operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in November 2021. The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel group, has been active in DRC since the mid-1990s and has been linked to Islamic State (ISIS).
In the 2025/26 national budget, the UPDF requested UGX 41.2 billion to sustain its operations in DRC, but only UGX 26.3 billion was allocated, leaving a shortfall of UGX 14.9 billion.
