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In a heartwarming gesture, Col. Michael Walaka Hyeroba, commanding officer of the Ugandan Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) contingent stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on 29^th June 2023 presented an 80-year-old man named Mzee Sefuko Ghato with a two-bedroom home in Amafiga village, North Kivu. The construction of the house was initiated by the UPDF Contingent Engineering Unit on May 16^th 2023 as part of their peacekeeping mission under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).

On June 29^th 2023, Col. Michael Walaka Hyeroba, the commanding officer of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) contingent stationed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, presented an 80-year-old man named Mzee Sefuko Ghato with a two-bedroom home in Amafiga village, Kabanda sub-county in North Kivu.

Under the direction of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), the UPDF is stationed in the DRC to carry out a peacekeeping mission. Col. Hyeroba praised God for Mzee Ghato’s life and the UPDF leadership for agreeing to facilitate the exercise to encourage cross-community collaboration between the Uganda Contingent and the Civilian community during the handover of the residence.

“The Civilians are an integral part of UPDF Ugacon Military efforts in the EACRF peacekeeping operations and to the entire UPDF as a family. It is this family that has allowed us to construct a respectable home for Mzee Ghato. For the Mzee Sefuko Ghato’s comfort, we also provided a four-inch bed, mattress, bed sheets, and a blanket, he added.

Col. Walaka expressed his gratitude to the residents of the Rutshuru region as well as all of North Kivu for welcoming UPDF Peace Keepers into their country. He promised to collaborate closely with the civilian population to make sure that North Kivu experienced complete peace and stability once more. The UPDF Contingent Engineering Unit started work on the house’s construction on May 16th.

Mzee Ghato commended God for the UPDF’s excellent work. “Today, UPDF has realised my dream of owning a permanent home,” exclaimed Mzee Sefuko with happiness. The project, according to Capt. Kato Ahmad Hassan, the contingent’s spokesman, is an expression of gratitude to the community for its steadfast assistance to UGACON in carrying out the EACRF’s mandate in the DRC.

Along with other members of the Contingent headquarter personnel, Lt. Col. Matin Tokwaro Komakech, the Contingent Administrative Officer, witnessed the transfer. The Bunagana border is roughly 11 kilometres away from the project site, while Kiwanja-Nyongera town, where the contingent headquarters are located, is 28 kilometres away.