By Kyetume Kasanga
President Yoweri Museveni has warned that the issue of Congolese aliens in Masindi and Hoima districts should be handled carefully because it could have negative consequences on the country’s relationship with the D.R Congo.
Passing out 844 officers and other ranks of the UPDF Field Artillery and Air Defence (AAD) on Friday, Museveni said he would personally intervene after receiving a report from the National political Commissar, Dr Crispus Kiyonga.
The Army Assistant Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Benon Biraro, the UPDF spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza, the resident district commissioner, Hassan Galiwango and the area MP Nyendwoha Mutiti witnessed the function.
The pass-out was held at the School of Field Artillery and Air Defence in Wantembo village, Butiaba, in Biiso sub-county, Masindi district.
Museveni said registration of the Congolese had attracted mixed reactions, forcing the Government to halt it.
He was responding to an explanation by the district chairman, John Majara, who implicated the aliens in criminal activities. Majara said they were robbing Ugandans and killing fishermen on L. Albert.
“Our stand is that we should identify who true Ugandans are and those who are not should either go to refugee camps, one of which we have in Kiryandongo, or go back home,” Majara said.
He said the Congolese were equipping themselves with poisoned arrows and had threatened to kill local councillors.
He said they were using illegal fishing gear and degrading the environment by claiming wetlands and deforesting their areas of occupation.
Museveni said he had asked Kiyonga for a report on the issue. Kiyonga with the general duties minister in the primier’s office, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, and the security state minister, Betty Akech, recently visited the area.
Ends