Brig. Mugume Leads Congo Pullout

By Felix Osike In Gbadolite, DRC THE deputy Army Commander, Brig. Joram Mugume, is now in charge of the UPDF withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mugume told The New Vision at Gbadolite Airport on Sunday, "I am in charge of the withdrawal exercise. I am coming back (to Congo) this week to proceed to Gemena. We think that in about two weeks' time the exercise will be over." On Friday afternoon, Mugume addressed a public rally in the northwestern Congolese town of Basankusu where about 800 soldiers have been pulled out. The first batch of 80 soldiers were flown to Gulu on Sunday aboard a Russian made Antonov 3C AAL. The Government recently resolved to withdraw its troops from Isiro, Gemena, Basankusu, Gbadolite, Dongo, Bafwasende, Lisala, Butembo, Kanyabayonga and Beni. However, the UPDF will remain in Bunia, Buta and on the western slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains. The UN observer mission in Congo (MONUC) officials, Lt. Col. Foustine Sirera (Kenya), Maj. Julio Navas (Uruguay) and Capt. Khelil Mohammed (Algeria) witnessed the withdrawal. "We are working in support of the Lusaka accord. We hope all the countries involved will abide by it and the international law," Sirera said. Mugume was accompanied by his aide Lt. Col. George Etyang, the Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence, Lt. Col. Fred Mugisha, army spokesman Lt. Col. Phinehas Katirima, and the Director of Information, Maj Shaban Bantariza. In Basankusu, Mugume met top commanders of Jean Pierre Bemba's Congolese Liberation Front. They included the chief of staff, Col. Amuli Bahigwa, the sector commander, Lt. Col. Singa Kato and the intelligence officer, Musa Mamina. Bahigwa thanked the UPDF for training their soldiers. Mugume also met the elders and local administration officials. He explained the changes which have taken place since the Lusaka Peace accord was signed. "The fighting has been stopped. We expect all the countries involved in the conflict to honour the Lusaka peace agreement," he said in Swahili. Mugume assured the Congolese that all debts incurred by the UPDF would be paid before pullout. Among the claims presented were US$3,349 for hospital bills, 1,500 litres of fuel and individual debts totalling US$3,720. Some of the bills were cleared and Mugume promised to pay the balance later. The soldiers were asked to register the names of their spouses before take off. All soldiers were thoroughly searched before boarding the plane. On arrival in Gulu, the soldiers were addressed by the 4th Division commander, Brig. Henry Tumukunde. Tumukunde said all returning soldiers would be screened for communicable diseases before proceeding to their stations. Ends