Uganda’s Foreign Policy towards her Neighbors: A Study of its Intervention in the DRC Crisis

This study critically examines Uganda’s foreign policy toward the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on the political, military, economic, and diplomatic dimensions of its interventions. Drawing from secondary sources and original survey data from 120 regional experts, the study identifies security and economic imperatives as the dominant motives behind Kampala’s decision to intervene. Findings reveal that Uganda’s engagement was largely influenced by the need to protect its borders, safeguard trade routes, and counter insurgent threats such as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). While these actions enhanced national security and expanded Uganda’s trade influence, they simultaneously strained diplomatic relations with Kinshasa and raised questions about sovereignty and regional ethics. Regression analysis further indicates that belief in economic motives significantly predicts support for Uganda’s intervention, reflecting a pragmatic rather than ideological foreign policy posture. The results demonstrate a complex interplay between security rationales and economic ambitions, consistent with broader theories of small-state realism and regional power balancing (Clark, 2001; Titeca, 2024; Manjula, 2022). The study concludes that Uganda’s DRC policy embodies a calculated balance between national interest, regional influence, and international legitimacy, highlighting the necessity for transparent regional frameworks to promote cooperative security and sustainable development.