Uganda’s military claims to have killed 242 CODECO rebels after they attacked a Ugandan military camp in eastern Congo. The group disputes the death toll, with differing casualty reports emerging.

Uganda’s military has claimed responsibility for killing 242 fighters from the Congolese rebel group CODECO following an attack on a Ugandan military camp across the border in eastern Congo earlier this week. The attack occurred in the Fataki region of Ituri province on Wednesday and Thursday when CODECO fighters reportedly targeted a Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) post.

According to Uganda military spokesperson Chris Magezi, the army retaliated swiftly, killing 31 militants on the first day of the clash and 211 on the second. Magezi further confirmed that one UPDF soldier lost their life, with four others wounded. The army’s post on social media stated the successful defense against the rebels, though the claim remains contested by CODECO.

In response, CODECO spokesperson Basa Zukpa Gerson disputed Uganda’s version of events, asserting that the group only lost two fighters during the clash and claiming the UPDF death toll was much higher. A United Nations source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that the conflict resulted in the deaths of 70 CODECO fighters and 12 Ugandan soldiers.

Following the clashes, further skirmishes between the two sides were reported on Saturday morning, according to CODECO and local civil society leaders.

CODECO, a militia group composed primarily of Lendu fighters, has long been involved in land disputes with Hema herders in the region. The group is one of numerous militias fighting for control over land and mineral resources in the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The violence has intensified in recent years, especially with the rise of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who have made significant territorial gains in 2025.

The ongoing conflict, rooted in historical ethnic tensions and competition over valuable resources such as tantalum and gold, is one of the most significant crises in eastern Congo since the 1998-2003 war, which involved multiple neighboring countries and resulted in millions of deaths.

Uganda has been involved in the region’s security since 2021, when it deployed troops to assist the DRC government in combatting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group affiliated with the Islamic State. The UPDF recently increased its presence in northern Ituri to prevent the ADF from infiltrating the area and to manage the growing refugee crisis as Congo citizens flee violence into Uganda.

The situation remains precarious as the Ugandan military continues to secure its borders and confront the various armed groups destabilizing the region.

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