Colonel David Byaruhanga, Commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) 409 Brigade based at Bondo Barracks in Arua, has died from injuries sustained during recent combat with the CODECO militia in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His death comes as General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, commander of the UPDF and son of President Yoweri Museveni, intensifies calls for a full-scale offensive against what he calls the “army of the Devil.”
Col. Byaruhanga, a respected and senior field officer, was leading operations in Ituri Province as part of Uganda’s extended deployment against CODECO and Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters. He was critically injured during the fierce two-day battle in Fataki on March 18 and 19, 2025, in which UPDF forces reportedly repelled a large-scale assault by CODECO militants.
According to acting UPDF spokesperson Col. Chris Magezi, the colonel was not wounded by enemy fire but rather by a malfunctioning RPG fired by a fellow soldier during the battle.
“A soldier fired an RPG that malfunctioned and injured Col. Byaruhanga along with several others,” Magezi said. “He was medically evacuated to Kampala but sadly passed away at Nakasero Hospital.”
The Fataki operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of 242 CODECO fighters and five UPDF casualties, now including the loss of Col. Byaruhanga—the highest-ranking Ugandan officer to be killed since the beginning of Uganda’s intervention in the DRC.
His death occurs amid escalating rhetoric from General Muhoozi, who has used his X (formerly Twitter) account to push a militant and religiously charged narrative.
“CODECO prays to the Devil every day! We pray to Jesus Christ every day. Let’s see who is stronger. So far, we’ve killed 300. I want at least 10,000,” he posted.
He added: “My father, General Yoweri Museveni, told me months ago to turn the UPDF into a ‘killing machine.’ That’s exactly what we’re working on.”
Officially, Uganda’s military presence in Ituri is the result of a bilateral agreement with Kinshasa aimed at fighting cross-border rebel groups. However, that cooperation is now under serious strain. According to Ugandan military sources, two FARDC colonels, three majors, and several Congolese soldiers disguised as CODECO fighters—allegedly with the backing of the military governor of Ituri—were captured during recent operations and transferred to Uganda for interrogation.
The death of Col. Byaruhanga, a key figure in UPDF field command, may serve as a turning point. For Muhoozi, it appears to validate the need for a relentless military response. But behind the calls for total war against CODECO, some analysts see the emergence of a broader regional strategy, mixing territorial ambitions with ideological and identity-based rhetoric.
Therwandan
