NEWS- The M23 Rebel outfit which has captured swatches of territory in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has laid siege and took control of Ishasha on the border with Uganda forcing the DR Congo government officials to flee for their lives.
The UPDF 2 Infantry Division Public Information Officer Major Kiconco Tabaro confirmed this development and said that the Ugandan Atmy continue to monitor the borders closely and have now stepped up surveillance measures along the common border.
“Fighting between different armed groups and Congo Forces in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has led to an influx of refugees into Uganda and also increased threat levels to the border communities and and the region” Major Kiconco Tabaro said.
Major Kiconco Tabaro explained that the civilians in proximity areas to common border especially the elderly, the sick, pregnant women and children are vulnerable to attacks from armed fighters, hunger, displacement and loss of cultural values as fighting ranges on.
The 2nd Division Army Spokesman said that many registered refugees are the most vulnerable members of the Congolese communities and this complicates the humanitarian situation for border communities and the entire region.
“As fighting range on, thousands of refugees have crossed through porous border into Uganda of Bunagana and Nteko in Kisoro, Kyeshero and Ishasha in Kanungu and other small ungazzeted routes have been used by asylum seekers into the country” He said.
He noted the most recent arrivals of over 2000 Congolese recieved in the last 72 hours are from areas of Katwiguru, Kiwanja, Binza, Kiseguro, Kiringa, Masisi, Bwenza, Walungu and Rutchuru among others.
“Important to note, is the fact that these areas are near our borders and fighting has security implications to border communities and the region as many armed groups are operational in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo” Major Kiconco Tabaro emphasized.
He however said that the refugees who reported to Ugandan authorities have been taken to transit centres at Nyakabande in Kisoro District and Matanda in Kanungu District
The office of the Prime Minister is working with all stakeholders at the border to ensure Congolese civilians running away from insecurity are handled as per requirements of the international law.
In a related development, a total of 98 armed Congolese Police officers were received yesterday evening at Ishasha border post and they are being handled as per International law guidelines.
The security situation on Uganda side is calm and there is no incursion into the Ugandan territory and the Security Forces continue to work with District Security Committees in the region to mobilise for the vigilance of border communities and to ensure thorough verification of fleeing Congolese civilians to avoid possible infiltration by negative element into Uganda.
“We continue to urge the community leaders at the borders and as well the civilians to keep vigilant as negative elements like ADF which has been labouring to come back into Uganda after we destroyed their camps in East DRC may take advantage of this situation” Kiconco Tabaro said.
He said that this vigilance will help the Security Forces to deter any cross border insecurity but called on the citizens to remain vigilant since the Army has already stepped up surveillance along Kisoro – Kanungu areas bordering with Democratic Republic of Congo.
