Trekking UPDF men

Trekking UPDF men in Beni after 520km By Felix Osike A SECOND batch of the UPDF soldiers from the 65th battalion who have been walking from the northeastern Congolese town of Bafwabwoli arrived in Beni on Friday. The first batch of 200 soldiers with their military hardware and families arrived in Beni on September 19. The soldiers began walking in July covering a road distance of 520km to Beni via Bafwasende and Mambasa. The government in June resolved to withdraw its troops from Isiro, Gemena, Basankusu, Bafwasende, Gbadolite, Dongo, Lisala, Butembo, Kanyabayonga and Beni. The process was, however, slowed down when a decision to pull out the 65th battalion and their equipment through Bangokha airport in Kisangani flopped. The Rwanda backed RCD-Goma rebels resisted Uganda’s request to the United Nations. Kisangani was supposed to be demilitarilised following bloody clashes between the UPDF and the Rwandese Patriotic Army. Army sources said the last group is stuck on the road 57km away from Beni after their equipment broke down. The UPDF headquarters was expected to send spares last week. The last group from this battalion is expected in Beni mid this month before starting the last leg home via Kasindi border near Kasese. They will walk a distance of 80km on the last leg bringing the total distance covered to 600km. Sources said the soldiers would be allowed to rest in Beni and later deployed on Mt Rwenzori slopes. Uganda says she will maintain 2000 soldiers in Buta and Bunia. ends