8 Congo army deserters handed over
IN another step in bilateral peace building, Uganda on Monday handed over eight Congolese army deserters to the DR Congo authorities.
By John Thawite
in DR Congo
IN another step in bilateral peace building, Uganda on Monday handed over eight Congolese army deserters to the DR Congo authorities.
This brings to about 40 deserters of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) Uganda has handed over to the country in less than a year.
Kambale Mvenge, whom the UPDF rescued from a mob in Bwera, Kasese district, was among them.
Armed with a bomb, he tried to rob people at gunpoint on Sunday night.
Others are Rukundo Zikundi, Patrick Baphanguheki, Akizimana Mapenzi, Bahiri Twisingize and Mutabazi Munyana.
The handover ceremony took place in the Congolese town of Rubiriha, west of Mpondwe.
The Ugandan delegation was led by the UPDF 21st Battalion commanding officer, Maj. Herbert Makanga, whereas Maj. Kossi Birotso of the UPDF/FARDC Joint Verification Team led the Congolese.
Makanga said the move was in line with efforts by the Ugandan and the Congolese army chiefs to coordinate on security issues.
According to the December 2006 Nairobi peace pact between President Yoweri Museveni and Joseph Kabila, the two nations set up joint verification teams, agreed to exchange information and to hand over each other’s dissidents.
Makanga explained that the UPDF captured the deserters as they fled from the FARDC “B†brigade based in Rutsuru.
The brigade is led by the Congolese factional leader, Laurent Nkunda, whose forces were integrated into the national army. Makanga said the deserters crossed into Uganda via Kyeshero in Kanungu district.
They said they abandoned Nkunda’s faction because of harsh conditions.
The deserters claimed they were conscripted into the force on promises that they would earn $100 (about sh172,000) monthly but they ended up being paid $10 (sh17,200).
Birotso said the culprits would be tried by the court martial for deserting the army.
The UPDF appealed to Congo to exercise more control over their forces.
in DR Congo
IN another step in bilateral peace building, Uganda on Monday handed over eight Congolese army deserters to the DR Congo authorities.
This brings to about 40 deserters of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) Uganda has handed over to the country in less than a year.
Kambale Mvenge, whom the UPDF rescued from a mob in Bwera, Kasese district, was among them.
Armed with a bomb, he tried to rob people at gunpoint on Sunday night.
Others are Rukundo Zikundi, Patrick Baphanguheki, Akizimana Mapenzi, Bahiri Twisingize and Mutabazi Munyana.
The handover ceremony took place in the Congolese town of Rubiriha, west of Mpondwe.
The Ugandan delegation was led by the UPDF 21st Battalion commanding officer, Maj. Herbert Makanga, whereas Maj. Kossi Birotso of the UPDF/FARDC Joint Verification Team led the Congolese.
Makanga said the move was in line with efforts by the Ugandan and the Congolese army chiefs to coordinate on security issues.
According to the December 2006 Nairobi peace pact between President Yoweri Museveni and Joseph Kabila, the two nations set up joint verification teams, agreed to exchange information and to hand over each other’s dissidents.
Makanga explained that the UPDF captured the deserters as they fled from the FARDC “B†brigade based in Rutsuru.
The brigade is led by the Congolese factional leader, Laurent Nkunda, whose forces were integrated into the national army. Makanga said the deserters crossed into Uganda via Kyeshero in Kanungu district.
They said they abandoned Nkunda’s faction because of harsh conditions.
The deserters claimed they were conscripted into the force on promises that they would earn $100 (about sh172,000) monthly but they ended up being paid $10 (sh17,200).
Birotso said the culprits would be tried by the court martial for deserting the army.
The UPDF appealed to Congo to exercise more control over their forces.