Peace-Keepers Inject Life Into Entebbe Town

Jun 30, 2003

‘Gauche...droite...gauche...droite...a’gauche...a’droite(left, right, left turn, right turn). It is a French dominated affair at the military drills at the multi-national force in Entebbe.

By Ricks Kayizzi
and Patrick Luganda

‘Gauche...droite...gauche...droite...a’gauche...a’droite(left, right, left turn, right turn). It is a French dominated affair at the military drills at the multi-national force in Entebbe.

The normally quiet Entebbe town is abuzz with activity as troops continue pouring into the growing military camp at the Old Entebbe airport.

The French-led Operation, Artemis, initiated by the UN continues to receive international support for the DR Congo peace initiative.

The soldiers have injected life into the hitherto slumbering town.

It was at this very airport, 27 years ago, that Uganda caught international attention with the Hollywood-style rescue of hundreds of Israeli hostages by commandos.

The incident also propelled dictator Idi Amin to international scrutiny, earning the country a bad name.

Several traders have cashed in on the presence of the peace-keepers from France, South Africa, Belgium, Britain and Canada.

Of the 1700 troops who have arrived, 850 are French already in the DR Congo’s troubled town of Bunia.

The mission spokesperson, Federic Solano, said at the base that Brazilian troops were expected to jet in at any moment.

The nearby Kitooro suburb is busy with soldiers buying goods for personal use.
Special hire taxis are now stationed at the main entrance to the camp and doing roaring business.

Solano said the soldiers are not allowed to roam about.
Ends

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