CODECO Rebel Leaders Meet Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Apologize for Attacks on UPDF in Landmark Peace Gesture
Entebbe, Uganda: In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, leaders of the Lendu militia group known as CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of the Congo) met this morning with Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, at a high-level peace dialogue held in Entebbe.
The CODECO delegation, led by Mr. Dunji Kulukpa Etienne, Vice President of the Lendu Community in Eastern DRC, included both political and militant figures. The Ugandan delegation featured top military commanders, including Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, Maj Gen Felix Busizoori, and Brig Gen Oscar Munanura, underscoring the gravity of the engagement.
In a striking moment of reconciliation, Mr. Dunji issued a formal apology for CODECO’s recent confrontations with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in Fataki, Eastern Congo. He attributed the conflict to misinformation from “negative forces,” and clarified that the Lendu, Balega, and Bahema communities harbor no hostility toward Uganda.
General Kainerugaba reaffirmed Uganda’s historic role in stabilizing the eastern DRC, referencing past joint efforts against insurgent threats such as the ADF and UHLF. He called on CODECO to partner with the UPDF for a unified pursuit of peace and regional security.
In a symbolic act of goodwill, Uganda extended free medical treatment to injured CODECO fighters at UPDF medical facilities. The meeting, facilitated by senior commanders and confirmed by Defence Spokesperson Col. Deo Akiiki, marks a pivotal step toward de-escalation and reconciliation in the Great Lakes region.
— Report by Acoli iTV