The National Resistance Movement (NRM) MP-Aspirant for Budiope West Constituency, Fred Mbaziira, has formally conceded the outcome of the recently concluded NRM party primaries. In a statement released on Monday, Mbaziira extended his profound gratitude to his supporters and affirmed his unwavering commitment to the constituency’s future development.
Acknowledging that “the outcome of the primaries was not in our favor,” Mbaziira expressed deep humility for the support received, stating he was “truly humbled to have served as your voice.” He thanked supporters from “deep in the villages to the trading centers” whose “unwavering support, energy, and belief in our shared dream have been nothing short of remarkable.”
Mbaziira reiterated that his campaign was firmly rooted in the core NRM values of “patriotism, democracy, wealth creation and social justice,” emphasizing that these principles “continue to guide my actions and decisions.” He expressed pride in being part of a movement that has shaped Uganda’s progress, asserting that his commitment to these values “remains strong and unshaken,” despite the electoral setback.
The aspirant did not shy away from addressing concerns raised during the election cycle. While choosing not to “dwell on the irregularities that were reported in various electoral villages,” Mbaziira acknowledged that the process “presented a number of challenges and several concerns were raised by voters and observers alike.” He stressed the importance of continuous improvement in “the transparency and fairness of our democratic processes” for both the party and the country, maintaining his focus on “unity, peace, and constructive engagement moving forward.”
Despite the primary results, Mbaziira assured constituents that his dedication “to serving our people remains as strong as ever.” He articulated a vision of leadership that “goes beyond positions,” reflecting in “continued engagement, listening, and standing for what is right.” He emphasized that the shared aspirations of Budiope West remain valid and worth pursuing in a spirit of unity and progress.
Looking ahead, Mbaziira announced plans for extensive engagement with “supporters, elders, youths, and stakeholders from across Budiope West.” He affirmed that future direction would be guided by community input, with a firm focus on “unity, development, and dignity for every citizen—for economic empowerment and poverty alleviation.”
“The mission is not over; we are simply preparing for the next chapter,” Mbaziira declared, urging supporters to stay connected, focused, and ready. He concluded by reiterating that “The values of our NRM party are alive in us, and with your continued support, we will carry them forward in ways that truly uplift our communities. Our journey together continues.”
Minister for presidency Milly Babalanda was declared winner of the Budiope West NRM primaries vote with 99,832 votes. She was followed by Mutagaya Denis with 12,940 votes, Kyoto Ibrahim with 9,995 votes, Tibatesa William with 666 votes, Mukisa Edward with 471 votes and Mbaziira Fred with 448 votes.
Five years ago today, a new political force emerged from the heart of Kamwokya, transforming Uganda’s opposition landscape. On this significant anniversary, the National Unity Platform (NUP) looks back at half a decade marked by immense challenges, profound sacrifices, and an unwavering commitment to what it describes as the struggle for national liberation.
The journey began at their former headquarters in Kamwokya, where the party was formally unveiled and its leaders introduced to the public. As a young organization, NUP was, by its own admission, “prone to challenges.” However, party officials credit the “resilience of our people and the public trust” for making them stronger from those foundational days.
Today, as NUP pushes forward with its declared struggle for liberation, the memories of the journey are acutely felt. The party somberly acknowledges the high price paid, stating that “several of our comrades whose blood has been shed by the regime” have been lost. Others have “disappeared never to be seen again,” while many more are “rotting in prisons as they grapple with trumped up charges.” These heavy tolls underline the perilous political environment in which NUP operates.
Regardless of these severe setbacks, the party asserts its continued advancement. “We are still advancing on with our cause and we are much alive to the fact that the real winners are not quitters. We are growing stronger and more focused on the liberation goal,” a statement from the party emphasizes.
Lewis Rubongoya, the NUP Secretary General, reflects on the journey since Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) first raised the NUP umbrella. “We have never looked back,” Rubongoya states, acknowledging it has been “a journey of so many trials and tribulations.” Yet, his message remains one of defiance and hope: “the freedom train continues moving. May we never falter in this journey, and may God hasten our victory.”
Echoing this sentiment, NUP Spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi characterizes the past five years as “rough and tumble.” However, he quickly adds that “they have also seen us do some exploits.” Ssenyonyi vividly recalls the formative days at their original, “small but cozy headquarters then at Kamwokya,” where despite initial uncertainties about the future, “our hopes were high…and so we set off.”
He recounts the skepticism that greeted their formation: “Some thought we would not last a year, others even dismissed us completely ab initio.” Yet, NUP has defied these predictions, with Ssenyonyi declaring, “but by God’s grace we are here today, and we continue to press on.” Looking ahead, Ssenyonyi’s message is one of profound optimism for the party’s future: “I believe the best days of NUP are not behind us, but ahead of us. Let us keep on keeping on!”
As NUP marks its fifth anniversary, the narrative woven by its leaders is one of tenacious endurance against formidable odds, a testament to a movement that believes its most significant achievements are yet to come.
The second weekend of the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup delivered a mix of thrilling goals and tactical stalemates as chiefdoms across the region intensified their pursuit for early dominance in the 2025 edition of the prestigious tournament.
Bugabula made a statement, stunning Bukooli Bugiri 2-0 in their own backyard at Hindocha Primary School. The result catapulted Bugabula to the top of the Bukowe group with 3 points, while Bukooli Bugiri and Luuka remain without a point.
Busiki were the weekend’s top scorers, dismantling Bukooli Namayingo 3-0 in a dominant display at Kisiki College. Goals from Kawanguzi Abdallah, Lunkabire Katibu, and Euko Simon sealed the commanding win. Busiki now top the Nendha group with 3 points, ahead of Butembe and Kigulu, who shared spoils in a goalless draw at Namagera Town Council Grounds.
In the Kagulu group, Bunha and Buzaya also played to a 0-0 draw at Buluba Hospital Grounds, each picking up a point. Meanwhile, Bunhole Bunanhumba fell 1-2 at home to a determined Bugweri side in the Mawembe group. Kigomba Rashid (shirt 16) netted for Bunhole, but goals from Kakaire Shaban (shirt 12) and Kasadha Mathias (shirt 10) secured Bugweri the win.
Upcoming Fixtures :
The tournament action continues next weekend with six games lined up across various grounds:
Saturday, July 26
Bukooli Namayingo vs Butembe – Namayingo Primary School
Bugweri vs Bukono – Busesa Mixed Primary School
Kigulu vs Busiki – Iganga Saza Grounds
Sunday, July 27
Budiope vs Bunhole Bunanhumba – Irundu Grounds
Luuka vs Bukooli Bugiri – Busalamu Primary School
Bulamoogi vs Bunha – Kasokwe Primary School
Group Standings
Kagulu Group
1.Bunha – 1pt
2.Buzaya – 1pt
3.Bulamoogi – 0pt
Bukowe Group
1.Bugabula – 3pts
2.Luuka – 0pt
3.Bukooli Bugiri – 0pt
Mawembe Group
1.Bugweri – 3pts
2.Bukono – 3pts
3.Bunhole Bunanhumba – 0pt
4.Budiope – 0pt
Nendha Group
1.Busiki – 3pts
2.Butembe – 1pt
3.Kigulu – 1pt
4.Bukooli Namayingo – 0pt
Top scorers after match day one
Abel Muwola 1 goal ( Bukono)
Edgar Magombe 1 goal (Bugabula)
Kigomba Rashid 1 goal (Bunhole Bunanhumba)
Emmanuel Nabola 1 goal (Bukono)
Kasadha Mathias 1 goal (Bugweri)
Kakaire Shaban 1 goal (Bugweri)
Kawanguzi Abdallah 1 goal (Busiki)
Lunkabire Katibu 1 goal (Busiki)
Euko Simon 1 goal (Busiki)
One own goal has been so far registered of Bukhooli Bigiri’s Sosi against Bugabula.
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has officially launched the campaign for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, unveiling the tournament’s official poster and theme under the banner “PAMOJA.” The 2024 edition of TotalEnergies CAF CHAN will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from 02-30 August, 2025, marking a historic first-time collaboration between the three East African nations in staging a major continental football event.
At the heart of the campaign is the word PAMOJA, a Swahili term meaning “unity.” More than just a slogan, PAMOJA embodies the spirit of togetherness, harmony, and shared ambition. It reflects the collective strength of African communities and the values that football brings to life, teamwork, collaboration, and solidarity.
The official poster, revealed today across CAF’s digital platforms and broadcast partners, visually encapsulates the vibrancy of African football and the unique cultural heritage of the host nations. Designed with bold, energetic motifs, the poster showcases East African landmarks and symbolic elements that resonate with the values of PAMOJA.
The TotalEnergies CAF CHAN is reserved exclusively for players who ply their trade in their domestic leagues. It is a celebration of homegrown talent and a showcase of the depth and diversity of African football.
As excitement builds for CHAN 2024, the PAMOJA campaign will roll out across multiple media platforms, incorporating fan engagement activities, digital storytelling, and grassroots football initiatives aimed at strengthening the connection between the tournament and African communities.
What used to be a peaceful community, Budiope East, and now the entire Buyende district, has been turned into an epicenter of political chaos, electoral violence, and vote rigging. This devastating transformation is thanks to the arrival of Eng. Moses Magogo and his wife from Bukedea district, Anita Annet Among, who serves as the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda. As a resident and active participant in Budiope East politics, I bear witness to, and have personally suffered from, this reign of terror.
Once Magogo and his controversial wife landed in Budiope East ahead of the 2021 general elections, peaceful campaigns and voting ceased to exist. With them came voter bribery, chaos, violence, blood spilling, and deception. The 2021 elections marked the start of excessive electoral violence across the constituency. These ugly electoral malpractices now characterize our politics—leaving our community brutalized and victimized.
Like they say, old habits die hard. Magogo, and his now powerful wife, unleashed untold violence yet again during the 2025 NRM primaries. The race in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries for Budiope East parliamentary constituency was between current Member of Parliament Eng. Moses Magogo, former MP Geofrey Dhamuzungu, and newcomer Daniel Mulirire. Magogo, Anita, and their teams have been violently consistent since their debut in Budiope in 2021 when they unleashed hired goons from Bukedea (dubbed “Bukedea Boys”) to harm anyone who supported Dhamuzungu, who was the incumbent then.
These uniformed police officers and unidentified individuals reportedly pounced on David Takozekibi and beat him, leaving him physically injured and distressed.
I participated in that 2021 election as an independent NRM-leaning parliamentary candidate, and I witnessed firsthand the extreme lengths Magogo and his violence-peddling wife can go to use brutality as a political tool to secure victory. Five years later, their heinous methods were at full display on July 17, 2025, when the ruling party conducted its primaries.
While we anticipated the Magogo camp to be violent because that is their character, and they had promised exactly that, the 17th day of July 2025, kicked off with warm optimism and a promise to give Budiope East leaders who are indigenous and suitable for the job. This was never to happen as Anita, who is the Speaker of Parliament, had set her hired goons, police, military personnel, and private bodyguards off their leashes to torment whoever they didn’t perceive to support them or was a hindrance to their planned electoral robbery.
Little did I know that I, as the head of Hon. Geofrey Dhamuzungu’s campaign task force, and my family, were primarily targeted. We were attacked by security operatives, both in police and military uniform and plain clothes, allegedly attached to Speaker Anita Among’s camp. They were armed to the teeth as if they were going to battle ADF rebels in the DR Congo or Al Shabaab in Somalia. Seeing the way they were strapped, you would never think they were going to torment innocent people participating in a nationally sanctioned ruling political party election.
On seeing me and my team, the violence-mongering mix of goons, police, and soldiers lashed at us. They started slapping and beating me and my team with cable wires, gun butts, punches, and sticks – all in equal measure. You dodge a slap, a stick or wire lands on your fragile body. It was a melee of violence and brutality unseen in Buyende district before.
The attack, which occurred just hours before the NRM party primaries, left my younger brother, Daniel Bagiire, seriously injured after being beaten with wires and gun butts. His head burst from the beating. The cut on the back of his head let out a worrying stream of blood that soaked his hair and clothes, necessitating immediate medical attention. He is still being medically managed to establish the depth of damage done on his head. Daniel’s “crime” that day is that he was my designated driver.
David Takozibi alleges that goons hired by the Speaker and his husband, Moses Magogo, and security personnel beat up his brother and driver, Daniel Bagire, shuttering his head.
The violence on that day was part of what the Dhamuzungu camp calls a coordinated campaign of intimidation, vote rigging, and suppression. We had sensed plans to frustrate our campaign. Unknown individuals, including one identified as Mus a — the son of LC Chairperson Tenywa — were seen loitering near my gate early in the morning. They are known Magogo collaborators who were carrying out clandestine spying before reporting back to their bosses, informing them of our movements.
Despite the threats, together with the team, I proceeded for the day. I was driven to Gwase but soon noticed a police patrol vehicle speeding in the opposite direction — heading back toward Ngandho. We immediately turned back to Ngandho, only to find the situation already volatile. Security operatives had started harassing people. I arrived just as a middle-aged man, Shaban, was being violently dragged towards a police patrol car like a terrorist caught in the act. Shaban was severely and embarrassingly assaulted just because he didn’t support Magogo and was against the prevailing injustices.
In an effort to de-escalate the situation, I tried to engage the security commander. Instead, my phone was grabbed, and I was slapped hard at the back. I was trying to alert my candidate, Dhamuzungu, about what was happening on the ground.
Hon. Geofrey Dhamuzungu being roughed by the military during the NRM primaries.
Earlier that morning, I had met the Officer in Charge (OC) of Gwase at the Buyamba junction. The OC was visibly powerless and flanked by a policeman on a motorcycle. The officer on the bike simply told the OC to “speak to the boss in the police car.” The situation quickly escalated when my young brother and driver, Daniel Bagiire, stepped out of the car holding his smartphone.
On seeing this, the security agents rushed at him, fearing he might record the operation. They beat him with gun butts and electric wires until he fell to the ground. I jumped over to protect him. That’s when they turned the canes and wires on me too. They beat me across the back without mercy. The beating left my skin bruised and torn, oozing with blood. It was a hell of a beating no Ugandan should face because of an election.
The beating only stopped when a voice from inside the security vehicle ordered the officers to “spare him.” Bagiire was rushed to Ngandho Health Centre — where no iodine or basic medical supplies were available to offer first aid. We had to continue to Bugaya Health Centre III for proper first aid and stabilization. From there, we found a way to urgently evacuate him to Kampala, where he received full medical attention. Bagiire is now recovering at home under the care of his wife, a trained medical professional.
Despite the assault and intimidation, Hon. Geofrey Dhamuzungu overwhelmingly won the NRM primaries in Budiope East – only for the election commission officials in Buyende district to without shame announce Magogo as the winner. We protested this kind of behavior, and we vehemently refute these concocted results. Luckily, we had taken precautions. All our agents were issued unique stamps specific to each polling centre. Only declarations bearing these valid stamps are legitimate — and that makes it very easy to verify the true outcome.
Daniel Bagire receiving first aid before he was whisked to Kampala to receive more advanced health care.
They beat us, harassed our supporters, and tried every trick in the misconduct book, but they won’t win. The people of Budiope East voted — and they voted for Dhamuzungu.
The campaign, backed by a united coalition of former contestants, has vowed to resist any attempts to impose a candidate through violence or fraud. Efforts to sanitize politics in Buyende district are ongoing, and the evil seeds sown by Magogo and his wife will be uprooted just as they are about to germinate.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has announced the promotion of Brigadier General Wilberforce Sserunkuma, Commander of its 3rd Infantry Division, to the rank of Major General. The elevation, communicated via a radio message from the UPDF Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, signifies a major recognition of Maj Gen Sserunkuma’s distinguished career and extensive contributions to national and regional security.
General Kainerugaba’s message highlighted Major General Sserunkuma’s “longstanding loyalty and outstanding contributions to peace and security efforts in Uganda and beyond,” tracing his service back to the formative years of the National Resistance Army (NRA). The promotion reflects his pivotal roles in Uganda’s liberation struggle and his sustained, dedicated service within the UPDF across numerous challenging operational theaters.
Major General Sserunkuma’s career trajectory showcases a commander with diverse experience across various critical assignments. He previously served as the Deputy Division Commander of the 2nd Division, based in Mbarara, where he was instrumental in overseeing security operations throughout Greater Western Uganda.
His commitment to national security was further demonstrated through his participation in Operation Iron Fist, a robust military campaign aimed at neutralizing the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) across Northern Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Beyond domestic anti-insurgency efforts, Maj Gen Sserunkuma has also played a crucial role in Uganda’s regional security commitments, having been deployed in vital peacekeeping and enforcement missions in Somalia and South Sudan.
Closer to home, Major General Sserunkuma commanded the 405 Brigade in Kotido District, where he was tasked with securing North Karamoja, extending his responsibilities up to the borders with South Sudan and Kenya. His leadership in the volatile Karamoja Sub-region continued with his appointment as Deputy Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, based in Moroto. He later ascended to the position of Division Commander, a role in which he has led significant pacification operations across the sub-region, thereby ensuring peace and stability in Greater Eastern Uganda.
This significant promotion not only celebrates Major General Sserunkuma’s distinguished individual career but also underscores the UPDF’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its command leadership. The restructuring efforts are vital as the force continues to adapt and address the evolving security challenges facing Uganda and the broader East African region.
The 8th edition of the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup delivered another exciting round of fixtures on Saturday, July 19, 2025, with six teams in action across the region.The headline result came from Hindocha Primary School in Bugiri, where Bugabula FC secured a dominant 2-0 win over hosts Bukooli Bugiri.
Edgar Magombe opened the scoring in the 10th minute before an unfortunate own goal by Bukooli Bugiri’s Sosi in the 90th minute to seal the victory for the visitors.
In Namagera Town Council, Kigulu and Butembe faced off in a tense but goalless encounter. Both teams created chances but failed to find the breakthrough, settling for a point each in their tournament openers.
Elsewhere, Bunha FC and Buzaya FC also played out a 0-0 draw, making it two goalless fixtures on the day.
After the game, Bunha head coach Mugerwa Bosco, a former Butembe tactician, expressed disappointment over the result but remained optimistic.
“We only had one week in camp due to limited finances. That affected our readiness, but I believe in this team,” he said.
He promised fans a stronger showing in their next fixture against Bulamogi on July 27.
Bunha captain Menya Samuel echoed his coach’s views, stating, “We didn’t have enough time to train as a team, but we are aiming for better results next time.”
Sunday Fixtures:
Action continues on Sunday, July 20, with two highly anticipated fixtures. Bunhole Bunanhumba FC will host Bugweri FC at Bugade Primary School Playground, live on Baba TV, while Busiki FC welcomes Bukooli Namayingo FC at Kisiki College Grounds in Namutumba. Both matches kick off at 4:00 PM.
The Busoga Kingdom Youth Council (BKYC) has launched a comprehensive Career Guidance and Inclusive Menstrual Hygiene Initiative (CGIMH) in Kaliro District, aiming to keep learners in school and equip them for life beyond graduation.
The program, inaugurated on Friday, July 18, 2024, at Namwiwa Secondary School, addresses both academic preparation and critical health barriers that often lead to student absenteeism.
Led by BKYC Chairperson Yafesi Bairukireki, the youthful delegation arrived with a two-pronged agenda: to help students chart realistic career paths and to remove the menstrual health hurdles that frequently force girls out of school.
“Education must be more than chalk and exams; it must protect dignity and unlock opportunity,” Bairukireki told an assembly of some 650 students gathered in the school courtyard.
The one-day programme featured motivational talks on subject selection and goal-setting, alongside a hands-on workshop where girls were taught to stitch their own reusable sanitary pads.
This practical exercise is intended to significantly reduce monthly absenteeism among female students.Namwiwa Secondary School Headteacher Waiswa Alamanzani lauded the Kingdom’s decision to dispatch youths to engage with their peers on educational matters.
“We had long searched for partners willing to speak to learners in a language they trust,” Alamanzani remarked. “The Kyabazinga’s call to keep children in school will echo loudly in this region.”
However, Alamanzani also highlighted existing infrastructure challenges, noting that with only two permanent classroom blocks, dozens of pupils still receive lessons beneath mango trees.
Paul Munanha, BKYC speaker, responded by explaining that each outreach now includes a symbolic tree-planting ceremony, aligning with the Kyabazinga’s “twin agenda—green Busoga and educated Busoga.”
Prince Job Mugoya from Bukooli chiefdom framed the initiative as both a cultural and social mission. “His Majesty graduated this year; that act alone preaches louder than speeches. We are here to amplify his example,” he stated.
Fellow council member Moreen Nakirima urged parents to purchase cloth and needles so their daughters could continue making pads at home. “Self-sufficiency is cheaper than emergency trips to the trading centre,” she advised.
The initiative has already begun to impact students. Senior Two student Anitah Namwebya, who received three packets of pads, enough for two months, expressed her relief. “I feared missing class whenever periods came. Now I’m covered—and I can sew more,” she said, proudly displaying her first homemade sample.
Freshman Michael Igaga left the session with renewed commitment, vowing: “They showed me success starts with respecting myself, parents and teachers. From today, school is my first priority.”
The BKYC plans to replicate this model across all 11 districts of Busoga, targeting both primary and tertiary institutions. While funding is largely voluntary, the council stated that discussions are underway with NGOs to secure supplies for hard-to-reach sub-counties.
“We will not rest until every learner—boy or girl—can attend school without shame or uncertainty,” Bairukireki affirmed as the team departed Kaliro for Jinja.
Bukhooli Bugiri vs Bugabula – Hindocha Primary School, Bugiri
Bunha vs Buzaya – Buluba Hospital Grounds (Live on Baba TV)
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Busiki vs Bukhooli Namayingo – Kisiki College Grounds
Bunhole Bunanhumba vs Bugweri – Bugade Primary School Grounds (Live on Baba TV)
The 2025 MTN Busoga Masaza Cup resumes with thrilling matchday one fixtures across five chiefdoms this weekend—Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July.
A total of five games will be played, all kicking off at 4:00 PM, with two selected for live broadcast on Baba TV.
Butembe vs Kigulu – Namagera Town Council Grounds
A fierce rivalry resumes as defending champions Butembe host two-time winners Kigulu. Both sides are joint record champions with two titles apiece and once met in the 2018 final, which Kigulu won on penalties. Butembe come into the game on the back of last year’s narrow 1-0 final victory over Bukono. It’s also the return of Coach Isaac Kitakule “Ozil” to Butembe’s dugout.
Bukooli Bugiri vs Bugabula – Hindocha Primary School, Bugiri
Despite neither team ever reaching a final, Bugabula boast a stronger recent record, having reached the semifinals in the past three editions.
Bukooli Bugiri will look to overturn their poor home form, while Bugabula hope to extend their impressive away scoring run after netting five goals in just two away games last season.
Bunha vs Buzaya – Buluba Hospital Grounds (LIVE on Baba TV)
One of the weekend’s most anticipated ties, Bunha hosts Buzaya, with both sides having reached the quarterfinals last year.
Bunha beat Luuka 2-0 at this venue in 2024, while Buzaya struggled on the road despite a flawless home record under Coach Afani. This clash promises excitement and national TV exposure.
Busiki vs Bukhooli Namayingo – Kisiki College Grounds
A battle of former champions, both seeking a second crown. Busiki (2023 winners) are strong at home, with a 100% home win record last year.
Bukooli Namayingo (2022 winners), however, struggled in the previous edition and have shown vulnerability in away matches. *
Bunhole Bunanhumba vs Bugweri – Bugade Primary School Grounds (LIVE on Baba TV)
Both teams are aiming for redemption after missing out on knockouts last year. Bugweri’s away form has been dismal, while Bunhole Bunanhumba have shown flashes of strength at home. This televised encounter is a must-watch for fans of underdog stories.
Live TV Matches on Baba TV
Saturday: Bunha vs BuzayaSunday: Bunhole Bunanhumba vs Bugweri
In King Leopold’s Ghost – a Sad Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa, Adam Hochschild paints an 1897 picture of Edmund Dene Morel, a trusted employee of a Liverpool shipping line whose subsidiary has the monopoly of transporting all cargo to and from the Congo Free State, a huge territory in central Africa that is claimed as a personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium.
Because Morel speaks fluent French, his company occasionally sends him to Belgium to supervise the loading and unloading of ships on the Congo run. Although the officials he works with have been handling this shipping traffic for years without a second thought, Morel begins to notice things that unsettle him.
At the docks of the big port of Antwerp he sees his company’s ships arriving filled to the hatch covers with valuable cargoes of rubber and ivory. But when they cast off their hawsers to steam back to the Congo, what they carry is mostly army officers, firearms, and ammunition.
Morel concludes that there is no trade going on here, as little or nothing is being exchanged for the rubber and ivory. Meanwhile, European newspapers run a campaign praising King Leopold for investing his personal fortune to benefit the Africans.
He is revered throughout Europe as a charitable monarch who has welcomed Christian missionaries to his colony. It is also claimed that his troops have fought and defeated local slave-traders who have been disturbing the population.
Fast forward, it is 2025, and King Leopold’s former personal territory is still endowed with its vast resources that are of key interest to all the great powers. The eastern part of the country is a center of military tourism by armies of neighboring countries and combatants from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, Allied Democratic Forces, Red Tabara and over 120 local armed groups. The mineral rich eastern region is a hub of insecurity, gender-based violence, illicit trafficking of natural resources and anarchy.
Three years earlier, the DRC had joined the East African Community with the hope of easing the political tensions with the member states under the principle of collective security. Indeed, the East African Heads of Government initiated the Nairobi Peace Process to resolve the anarchy in Eastern DRC with strategies of engaging the DRC Government, armed groups, civil society and the international community.
An East African Community Regional Force was mandated to disarm all the armed groups in eastern DRC. Ambitious Kenyan institutions like Equity Bank and KCB didn’t take long to exploit the new found opportunities and ventured into DRC’s financial sector. Relations with Rwanda seemed to normalize in the initial years of Tshisekedi’s presidency as Rwanda freely executed operations against the FDLR and RNC leading to the elimination of many purported genocidaires in FDLR.
Rwanda also ventured into DRC’s economic space by operating Rwandair flights to Kinshasa and acquiring stakes in the mining sector. Uganda’s construction company acquired a contract to build roads and mining contracts in Eastern DRC. Uganda also got lee way to conduct operation Shuja to eliminate the ADF rebels in DRC.
Unfortunately, the DRC government was not contented with the EACRF diplomatic approach towards the rebels as it preferred a more aggressive onslaught against the Rwanda backed M23. President Tshisekedi refused to renew the EACRF’s mandate and issued ultimatums for them to exit DRC just after 11 months.
In strategic wisdom, Tshisekedi discarded the EAC and turned to the Southern African Development Community with the hope that SAMDRIC would be more aggressive against his opponents. To the contrary, Rwanda backed M23 overwhelmed his forces and led to the exit for the SAMDRIC.Faced with imminent defeat, Tshisekedi ran to the west world for redemption with his country’s critical minerals as a bargaining hook.
The published letter from DRC’s Head of the Senate’s Committee on Defense, Security and Boarder Protection, Pierre Kanda Kalambayi, to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pleading for an urgent meeting between Trump and Tshisekedi to discuss a pact that would grant American companies exclusive access and operational control to some of the most coveted minerals for the energy transition in exchange for security assistance must have been received as a divinely sent miracle by the Trump administration.
DRC’s proposal of security for minerals was Trump’s biggest reliever from his trade wars with China, the failed peace deal for Ukraine and the Gaza crisis. The much-hyped peace deal between DRC and Rwanda that was brokered by Trump is reminiscent of King Leopold’s hyped charitable deeds for the Africans in the 1890s.
The western media is once again filled with voices praising Trump for his heroic efforts in bringing peace to the DRC, but as long as minerals are at the forefront of America’s interests, DRC is on a sure journey back to its old Congo Free state, but this time as a personal hunting ground for the US.
The US might guarantee regime survival in Kinshasa but won’t solve the ethnic tensions causing the mayhem in DRC. The US might get exclusive rights to the mineral in DRC but won’t be in position to the cross-border conflicts and terror cells that have attracted neighboring military interventions.
The millions of Congolese refugees languishing in East African countries can’t live meaningfully unless regional mechanisms are prioritized. Only the EAC has the will to ensure lasting peace in the DRC and should be at the forefront of the peace processes..
