200 UPDF Reach Beni After Walking 520km

By Emmy Allio OVER 200 Uganda soldiers who braved harsh weather and walked through a hostile jungle route for over two months, yesterday arrived in the northeastern Congolese border town of Beni, 520kms from Bafwabwooli. The soldiers left Bufwabwooli early July and passed through Bafwasende and Mambasa. But a larger number of the estimated 800 soldiers from the 65th battalion were yesterday still stuck between Beni and Mambasa due to a breakdown of military equipment that includes tanks and trucks. The deputy Army Commander, Brig. Joram Mugume, said, “Many of them are stuck on the road to Beni because the equipment they are accompanying broke down. We are dispatching equipment to them immediately.” Mugume said he expects spare parts to be flown in to repair the equipment which had broken down. “The first group of two companies have now arrived in Beni. They are tired. I think the decision to fly them home from Beni will be taken after the whole group has reached Beni,” Mugume said. Another military source said the 65th battalion may be allowed to rest in Beni and later be deployed on the western slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains to contain insecurity there. Kisangani city is occupied by RCD-Goma rebels in defiance of a United Nations and Joint Military Committee of the Lusaka resolutions ordering them to leave the city. Last weekend, the United Nations Secretary General, Koffi Annan, visited the DR Congo war-ravaged Kisangani city to press for its demilitarisation. Ends