The six hundred twenty six Congolese soldiers who sought refuge in Uganda on Friday following the rebels’ capture of the border town on Bunagana have been transferred to Kasese district, a UPDF official has
confirmed.
Addressing a press conference in Verina Gardens this evening, the Second Division Commander Brigadier Patrick Kankiriho said the UPDF decided to transfer them to Kasese because it is safer than Kisoro
district that is near to the war zone in DRC.
Brig. Kankiriho said that twenty four of the troops who sustained injuries during a fight with the M23 rebels loyal to warlord Bosco Ntaganda are undergoing treatment at their base in Kasese.
He however, did not disclose where the Congolese troops are being hosted because of security reasons.
Brig. Kankiriho who said that the situation at the border is now okay revealed that the government of Uganda is consulting their counterparts in the DRC over a possible handover of the troops back to
their country.
He also warned the people living in the border districts to be vigilant because the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels are regrouping and recruiting in DRC with an aim of re-attacking Uganda.
Brig. Kankiriho said that intelligence indicates that there about one thousand ADF troops who include Rwandese, Congolese and Burundian recruits.
The ADF under Jamil Mukulu have been in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for nearly ten years after failed attacks on Uganda from 1996 to 2002.
They committed a lot of atrocities including killing innocent civilians in Kasese, Bundibugyo and Kabarole, a reason why the Division commander calls them terrorists linked to the al-Qaida.
He called upon the people of Bundibugyo to settle the tribal misunderstandings between the Bamba and Bakonzo through dialogue because violence is contributing to insecurity in the area.
The press conference was attended by the Division spokesperson Capt.Peter Mugisha and the 305 brigade public relations officer Lt.
Ninsiima Rwemizuma. END.
No comments:
Post a Comment