Uganda and DR Congo: A neighbouring grass-thatched hut set ablaze

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OPINION

By Emmanuel Sekitende

“When your neighbour’s grass-thatched hut catches fire, fetch water quickly; the sparks will surely reach your roof.” What began as neighbourly instinct has become a strategic necessity: waves of conflict in eastern Congo have repeatedly produced armed militias, refugee flows and transnational criminal economies whose effects do not stop at the border.

During the 1990s and 2000s, Uganda faced direct fallout from the Great Lakes wars, leading to major military deployments in Congolese territory. In 2005, the International Court of Justice ruled Uganda had violated aspects of international law during these interventions, leaving a legacy of mistrust. Armed groups like the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) exploited porous borders, launching attacks that destabilised both countries.

To counter this, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo moved toward structured cooperation. On November 30, 2021, they launched Operation Shujaa, a joint military campaign targeting ADF networks, marking a new phase of coordinated security responses.

DRC’s entry into the East African Community in 2022 reshaped Uganda’s priorities, transforming Congo from a security risk into an economic opportunity. Uganda’s exports to the DRC reached hundreds of millions of dollars in 2023, highlighting the stakes in reopening trade routes disrupted by conflict. Yet insecurity and rebel activity continue to disrupt commerce, with border posts like Bunagana and Ishasha only reopening in July 2025 after months of closure.

The humanitarian dimension remains severe. Since January 2025, Uganda has received over 70,000 Congolese refugees, bringing its total refugee population close to two million, the largest in Africa. UN agencies warn of critical funding shortfalls, with food, health, and protection services under strain. Rising child malnutrition, overstretched reception centres, and pressure on local services present Uganda with immediate policy challenges. Each influx burdens national finances, health systems, and border politics.

Recognising that military action alone cannot solve the crisis, Uganda has pursued a dual approach. Alongside joint operations with FARDC, it invests in mentoring Congolese brigades, building roads, and improving customs systems to turn security gains into governance and economic progress.

However, Uganda faces reputational challenges, as past interventions were marred by allegations of supporting armed actors. Observers stress the importance of transparency, human rights, and governance reforms. Jason Stearns aptly noted: “We need to give Congolese the tools to solve their own problems.” The endless emergencies, humanitarian strain, and lost economic potential far outweigh calibrated engagement.

Uganda’s prudent path lies in targeted cooperation, institutional capacity-building, conditional infrastructure support, and regional diplomacy. If Uganda wishes to keep its own roof intact, it must do more than fetch water when sparks fly; it must help its neighbour rebuild the roof, shore up the village watch, and strengthen the institutions that make future conflagrations less likely.

The writer is an MBA Student – Strategy and Communication at Makerere University Business School