The Uganda People’s Defense Forces – UPDF has killed a total of 242 Militias in a fierce battle that errupted at Fataki, in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Col. Chris Magezi, the Deputy UPDF Spokesperson, hundreds of heavily armed Lendu militants fighting under CODECO – the Cooperative for Development of the Congo this week attacked a UPDF Battle Group stationed in Fataki, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for two consecutive days in an attempt to dislodge it and failed.
He says the militias attacked UPDF blocking force on Wednesday and Thursday in early morning raids (18-19 March 2025) but were repulsed on each occasion with the group sustaining heavy casualties in the process.
“31 militias were killed in action on Wednesday, and another 211 died on Thursday morning, yesterday. The UPDF suffered one fatality, while 4 other soldiers were injured over the course of the attacks” Col. Magezi said in a statement posted on his X handle.
He further explained that the UPDF casualties have since been evacuated to the rear in Uganda for further management, with all the injured soldiers expected to recover.
This website has since learnt that the deceased UPDF officer was Brigade Commander Col. David Byaruhanga. He died yesterday afternoon at Nakasero Hospital where he had been admitted, according to the 4th Division Public Relations Officer, Capt David Kamya.
“He has died as a Hero and we shall remember him,” he said.
The UPDF deployed in the area a few weeks ago to prevent fleeing ADF remnants from infiltrating the area while escaping mounting pressure from the joint forces of UPDF and FARDC under Operation Shujaa.
The CODECO militias recently struck a pact with the ADF terrorist group and have over the last few months stepped up violent attacks against other Congolese communities in the Ituri Province region, especially those from the Hema ethnic group.
The massacres at the hands of ruthless CODECO militias have left hundreds of Hema people dead, mainly women and children. Entire habitat villages have been left torched, looted, and destroyed.
The UPDF presence in Fataki, as well as in the neighboring provincial towns of Bunia and Mahagi has come as a welcome relief to the local communities in the area who for years have endured relentless attacks against them by Lendu and allied militia groups.
The UPDF deployments in the northern Ituri region is also expected to stem the flow of refugees, hundreds of whom have been crossing the international border into Uganda for several weeks now seeking safety and protection, according to Col. Magezi.