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Over 50 armed DR Congo soldiers, led by the Resident District Commissioner of Mahagi Territory in Ituri Province, illegally crossed into Ugandan territory at Awasi Center, Afuda Parish, Jangokoro Sub-County, Zombo District, on January 3, 2025.

Local leaders report that the Congolese are claiming ownership of the Ugandan territory where the Zombo District local government is undertaking a borehole drilling project for the community.

The water project is expected to benefit thousands of people from both Uganda and DR Congo, who share similar cultures, traditions, languages, and even national identity cards.

Festus Ayikobua, the Resident District Commissioner of Zombo, confirmed the incursion by the Congolese soldiers, stating: “We received information that my colleague, who is also the RDC in Mahagi, has come with more than 50 soldiers to stop water construction, which is in my sub-county.”

Authorities say the act outrightly contravenes international law. Zombo RDC Ayikobua, who vehemently condemned the Congolese incursion into Ugandan territory, added, “We decided to consult with our security team, and as I speak now, the Congolese have withdrawn from our territory.”

He assured calm and advised the Congolese authorities to use appropriate and amicable measures to resolve issues. He further noted that Ugandan soldiers had already been deployed to secure the area.

Local leaders say the territorial boundary being claimed by the Congolese authorities has been used by Uganda, through the Zombo District local government, for decades.

The LCV Chairperson of Zombo, James Oruna Oyullu, has called for the intervention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Kinshasa government to resolve the border dispute, noting that the reason for the Congolese incursion remains unclear.

“The purpose of their coming should have been made very clear to us as leaders. They were supposed to come to us first to understand why we drilled water in that particular place,” Oyullu explained to this publication during an interview.

Oyullu added, “To make matters worse, the area they are claiming is not even in DR Congo; it is in Uganda at the border.”

Since the early 2000s, long-standing territorial disputes between Uganda and DR Congo have persisted, despite continuous efforts by both states to resolve them amicably.

Currently, Ugandan traders, mainly from Paidha Town Council, Zombo District, complain about the harsh treatment they face from Congolese authorities when crossing into the Awasi Weekly Market in DR Congo.

Similarly, last year in May, Congolese locals took over three Ugandan villages—Acu, Oyaro, and Acu Cell—in Paidha Town Council and Abanga Sub-County. This stoked tensions in the community until authorities from DR Congo and Uganda convened a crisis meeting at Acu Village to resolve the matter.

Last year, the governments of Uganda and DR Congo held a significant joint technical committee meeting in Goma, DR Congo, aimed at reaffirming their common border, developing a comprehensive roadmap, and budgeting for the demarcation of the 817 kilometers of their shared border.

Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to play a central role in executing crucial diplomatic engagements with DR Congo. These efforts are vital for maintaining peaceful relations and achieving a clear demarcation between the two countries.

According to Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, only 44.8 kilometers of the border have been reaffirmed to date. This includes a 28-kilometer stretch from Offo/Vura and a 16.8-kilometer section from Sarambwe/Bwindi, reflecting progress but highlighting the extensive work still required to fully demarcate the entire border.