Sat Mar 22 11:51:13 UTC 2025: ## Ugandan Army Claims Victory Over Congolese Rebels, Death Toll Disputed
**Kampala, Uganda – March 22, 2025** – The Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) announced the killing of 242 fighters from the Congolese rebel group CODECO following clashes near the border in eastern Congo this week. However, this claim is strongly disputed by CODECO and a UN source.
According to UPDF spokesperson Chris Magezi, hundreds of CODECO fighters attacked a UPDF post in Fataki, Ituri province, on March 19th and 20th. The UPDF reported killing 31 rebels on the first day and 211 on the second, while suffering one fatality and four injuries.
CODECO spokesperson Basa Zukpa Gerson countered these figures, claiming only two of their fighters were killed and that Ugandan losses were significantly higher. A UN source, speaking anonymously, gave a different account, stating that approximately 70 rebels and 12 Ugandan soldiers died.
Further clashes were reported on March 22nd. CODECO, whose stated aim is to protect Lendu farmers from Hema herders in a long-standing land dispute, is one of many militias operating in eastern Congo’s volatile region, where conflict over land and resources is rampant. The ongoing conflict, exacerbated by the activities of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, is considered the worst since the 1998-2003 war.
Uganda’s military presence in the region stems from its 2021 deployment to assist the Congolese government against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The UPDF’s recent deployment to northern Ituri aims to prevent ADF infiltration and manage the flow of Congolese refugees into Uganda. The differing accounts of the recent clashes highlight the ongoing challenges and complexities of the conflict in eastern Congo.
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