Ugandan military says it killed 242 fighters from the congolese rebel group CODECO during two days of heavy fighting in Ituri province, eastern Congo. The violence began after hundreds of CODECO militants allegedly raided a Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces post in Fataki on March 19 and on 20.
Initial assault killed 31 rebels, another squad took on another 211 with SPDF reports from UPDF spokesperson Chris Magezi who also said four soldiers were injured
But the rebel group denies these numbers. Basa Zukpa Gerson, the CODECO spokesman said the group fought that it only killed pre officer two men in the battle and also alleging the Ugandan army having much rates injuries. 
UN source said the numbers varied, giving this one: 70 rebels and 12 Ugandans dead.
On Saturday morning, there were additional skirmishes between the two sides ramping the volatile situation.
It further highlights the larger tensions in eastern Congo, which are beset by lots of armed groups including Congocoland-backed rebel militia backed by Rwanda and the Rwanda-backed M23 fighting for territory in order to tap mineral wealth. Since 2021, Uganda has operated military forces in Congo to fight the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group suspected of being linked to the Islamic State.
With increased tensions, Uganda last week deployed special forces to South Sudan to reduce fears a civil war was on the horizon and as such has militarized itself across the region.
