UPDF explains Garamba situation
Jun 02, 2006
UgandA People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has said that Uganda and Congo armies are not likely to fight over the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) presence in Congo’s Garamba zone.
By Emmy Allio
UgandA People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has said that Uganda and Congo armies are not likely to fight over the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) presence in Congo’s Garamba zone.
In a statement, the army said on the contrary, relations between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were cordial as efforts were being made to find a regional solution to the LRA rebel presence in Garamba National Park.
The army was responding to the New Vision Wednesday story titled “Congo targets UPDFâ€.
In the story, the Congolese army (FARDC) commander, Capt. John Peter Molengo of the Elite Commando battalion, said the enemy to the FARDC is the UPDF not LRA.
He also said the FARDC was compiling data on UPDF infiltration into Congo.
The UPDF spokesman, Major Felix Kulayigye, said, “The officer’s claims do not represent the views of the Kinshasa government, as evidenced by the two meetings between DRC and Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, chiefs of intelligence and securities and MONUC (The UN mission in Congo) held on May 24 and 25 in Kinshasa.â€
“In the above meeting, it was agreed that among others, the LRA’s presence in Garamba and mechanisms for eliminating them should involve other regional stakeholders like the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the UN Mission in Sudan.
The security chiefs agreed to conduct joint reconnaissance, establish joint security liaison officers, and share intelligence information, the statement said.
Kulayigye added that the Uganda government would ask the military authorities in DRC to take appropriate action against Capt. Molengo for his utterances.
The LRA rebels, who have been terrorising northern Uganda for over 20 years, recently relocated to Congo from their bases in southern Sudan.
UgandA People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has said that Uganda and Congo armies are not likely to fight over the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) presence in Congo’s Garamba zone.
In a statement, the army said on the contrary, relations between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were cordial as efforts were being made to find a regional solution to the LRA rebel presence in Garamba National Park.
The army was responding to the New Vision Wednesday story titled “Congo targets UPDFâ€.
In the story, the Congolese army (FARDC) commander, Capt. John Peter Molengo of the Elite Commando battalion, said the enemy to the FARDC is the UPDF not LRA.
He also said the FARDC was compiling data on UPDF infiltration into Congo.
The UPDF spokesman, Major Felix Kulayigye, said, “The officer’s claims do not represent the views of the Kinshasa government, as evidenced by the two meetings between DRC and Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, chiefs of intelligence and securities and MONUC (The UN mission in Congo) held on May 24 and 25 in Kinshasa.â€
“In the above meeting, it was agreed that among others, the LRA’s presence in Garamba and mechanisms for eliminating them should involve other regional stakeholders like the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the UN Mission in Sudan.
The security chiefs agreed to conduct joint reconnaissance, establish joint security liaison officers, and share intelligence information, the statement said.
Kulayigye added that the Uganda government would ask the military authorities in DRC to take appropriate action against Capt. Molengo for his utterances.
The LRA rebels, who have been terrorising northern Uganda for over 20 years, recently relocated to Congo from their bases in southern Sudan.