By Goodluck Musinguzi

Thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo fled from fresh fighting in their country to Kisoro district in western Uganda.

Ahmed Doka, the Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, said close to 20,000 refugees had crossed over to Uganda and many more were coming.

He said Ugandan forces were put on alert on Thursday night after fighting started inside Bunagana area in North Kivu.

“Once fighting started, we knew refugees were going to enter Uganda and various agencies are working around the clock to receive them.”

Doka said the refugees had refused to be transported to Nyabande transit centre because they want to monitor the situation first.

But Doka said it was not right for refugees to stay at the border because it put their lives in danger and also makes it difficult to monitor wrong elements who could enter the country.

M23 sources in Bunagana told New Vision in a rare interview that forces loyal to fugitive Gen Bosco Ntaganda attacked Icyanzu hills where Brig Gen Makenda’s headquarters are based.

Around midnight, heavy fighting started until when Ntanganda’s forces were dislodged and pushed beyond their base in Runyonyi. “

Our forces have this morning taken over Gen. Ntaganda’s base and we can't tell his whereabouts.”