Police killings: Uganda expects DRC response today
Kampala/Hoima/Ntoroko.
Government today expects DR Congo to respond to the killing of four Ugandan policemen by suspected Congolese soldiers on Lake Albert at the weekend.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr James Mugume, told Daily Monitor yesterday that the protest message had been delivered to Kinshasa government by the Ugandan Ambassador to DR Congo, Mr James Kinobe.
“The same message that was issued in Kampala [Monday], was delivered by the ambassador and by tomorrow, we expect the response,” Mr Mugume said.
The former state minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Okello Oryem, on Monday warned that Uganda would defend itself against the Congolese forces if attacks on its citizens happen again.
The policemen were killed while patrolling the Ugandan border on Lake Albert and their bodies taken to Bunia in DRC.
Mr Oryem described the incident as “an abhorrent conduct” by the Congolese soldiers, saying they had put DRC on notice that a repeat of any attack may lead to hot pursuit by Uganda’s armed force to repel such attackers.
“A repeat of these incidents may compel the Uganda authorities to take self-defence measures to protect its citizens,” he said in a press briefing at Foreign Affairs ministry in Kampala.
The bodies, according to the Rwenzori regional police commander, Mr Denis Namuwoza, were still being held by the Congolese authorities in Bunia, eastern Congo. The deceased are Faruk Waiswa, Biral Obara, Moses Ochen and Bernard Isingoma.
According to police, the deceased were responding to an illegal fishing incident by Congolese nationals in Ugandan waters before they were ambushed and killed.
Their rifles and police boat were seized. Photographs taken after the attack show that one officer was captured alive and taken DRC side, but was later killed in unclear circumstances.
The incident was one of the many violent attacks by the Congolese officers at disputed points on Lake Albert despite the 2007 Ngurdoto Agreement between the two countries to resolve such incidents in peaceful manner.
Meanwhile, Ugandan fishermen on Lake Albert are living in fear following the incident.
“We are living in fear. We are appealing to government to beef up security in our area,” the Nkondo beach management unit chairperson, Mr Emmanuel Kugonza, said.
The Kanara LC1 chairman in Ntoroko District, Mr Joseph Mupewa, said it was common for Congolese fishermen to illegally fish in Ugandan waters. “When they meet with Ugandan fishermen, it is common to have quarrels and fights,” he said.
Commenting on the incident, the Rwenzori regional police spokesperson, Ms Lydia Tumushabe, said investigations with other security agencies had commenced,” adding that they were on high alert and deployed more personnel to ensure the situation remains under control.
Reported by Risdel Kasasira, Francis Mugerwa, Andrew Bagala & Felix Basiime
