UPDF Clash With Mai Mai

By Emmy AllioUgandan soldiers on Sunday clashed for several hours with the Mai Mai militia in Butembo town.The Mai Mai militia from the Mudhovu and Vurondo factions had on Saturday driven out Mbusa Nyamwisi’s RCD-Kisangani forces from Butembo.Last October, another Mai Mai group of La fontaine killed Mbusa’s army commander Col. Mbutsi. UPDF sources yesterday confirmed a report on Radio France International about several UPDF units rushed to Butembo from Beni, 50km away, to flush out the Mai Mai.“We received some UPDF assistance to fight the Mai Mai. We think some group or country is arming them,” Nyamwisi’s spokesman Jean Louis Kyaviro said yesterday.Kyaviro said the toughest battle was at Butuhe, outside Butembo town, which the UPDF left in June last year. In Bunia, the UPDF were again deployed to save RCD-Kisangani forces in a battle at Kobu against ethnic Lendu and Ngiti tribes who are resisting the rebel administration which they say is dominated by the Hema and Wagerere, their rivals in the war for land.Sources said two UPDF soldiers were injured and several Hema and Lendu killed early last week. Confusion among Uganda-backed rebel groups has continued with Roger Lumbala’s group claiming they had seized the gold-rich Watsa and Duruba towns over the weekend.Ends