DRC military set base inside Uganda border
Some of the Congolese soldiers guarding the barrier they erected inside Uganda last week. Photo by Patrick Okaba.
What you need to know:
The claim the development follows orders from their bosses to take control of the area and also to curb smuggling and insecurity.
ZOMBO
Work at the Uganda-DR Congo border in West Nile has been disrupted as armed DR Congo police and army took control of a barrier they constructed about 4kms inside the Ugandan territory.
Zombo Resident District Commissioner Rasul Aluma said the incident would affect the government’s programmes in the area which is now inaccessible. “We have informed the Ministry of Internal Affairs and those in Congo to desist from such action,” Mr Aluma said.
Traders heading to market, patients seeking health services and farmers were blocked for hours by the intruding DR Congo forces and were not allowed entry or exit to and from Uganda. The four kilometres span five parishes in Abanga Sub-county in Zombo District. The initial check-point barrier was in Asi at the border, but it has been extended into Uganda.
Affected
The affected parishes include Asina, Per, Pamitu and Pakadha. The Congolese soldiers say they are reclaiming the land at the Mahagi border point which they claim their country lost to Uganda during the colonial period.
The 4th Division Commander, Col Emmanuel Kanyesigye, asked the Congolese forces to retreat and wait for a survey to be conducted. “We should be focusing at peace and development with neighbours in good business and sharing ideas but not aiming at war,” Col Kanyesigye said.
The Congolese police commander for Eastern Province in Mahagi District, Capt Nuya Katunda, said: “We got instructions from our bosses to take control of the place. But we shall be peaceful as we guard the place to control smuggling and insecurity in the area. And this issue cannot be handled by lower cadres but we will wait from our bosses.”
