UPDF pulls out of Bunia
Apr 24, 2003
The first batch of 1,500 UPDF soldiers from Bunia were expected to fly back home last evening, according to Brig. Kale Kaihura, the overseer of the operations in Ituri region.
By Felix Osike and Tim Cocks in Bunia
The first batch of 1,500 UPDF soldiers from Bunia were expected to fly back home last evening, according to Brig. Kale Kaihura, the overseer of the operations in Ituri region.
“One thousand five hundred are pulling out by plane now while others in Mongualo and Irumu are walking to the Ugandan border. We are doing this according to our own schedule,†he said.
However, the exercise was delayed till today after a plane mishap.
As the UPDF soldiers waited for the plane to bring them home, the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC) officials were locked up in meetings with Kaihura over the timetable for the withdrawal.
Quoting MONUC regional director Vadin Perfilia, Kaihura said the UN team was not ready to take over the security in Bunia. He said they needed more time to organise an adequate replacement force.
Congolese Minister for Peace Vital Kamhere told The New Vision that Kinshasa had given Uganda one month to carry out a phased withdrawal.
“We are in consultation with the UPDF about their plan to withdraw and the deployment of our police because we don’t want to leave a vacuum here,†Kamhere said.
He said Bangladesh had agreed to send about 4,000 military observers to boost the Uruguay team, which arrived on Wednesday. They are expected in the DR Congo in two weeks time.
Bunia Airport was busy yesterday as UN transport planes and chartered passenger aircraft from Entebbe and Kinshasa landed and took off amid tight security provided by the UPDF.
The UPDF were expected to hand over Bunia town to the newly-deployed Uruguayan forces.
“But the UPDF will keep control of the airports and the surrounding area until the withdrawal is complete,†Kaihura said.
Yesterday morning about 80 Kinshasa police, in navy blue khaki uniforms, armed with sub-machine guns, were deployed in the town.
They immediately boarded a big cattle-truck going to the town centre. Kamhere said they were the first of 3,000 due to be deployed in Ituri over the next few weeks. They were accompanied by Kabila’s deputy army commander Maj. Gen. Kisempia Sungilanga and Kamhere.
Sungilanga said their mission would be to provide security for the people of Bunia and their property. Kamhere said Kinshasa would deploy about 3,000 police in Ituri.
Meanwhile, miles away in Kinshasa, crowds were reported to be celebrating the UPDF departure from Ituri. Uganda has been criticised for its involvement in Ituri province, with international observers accusing it of being a destabilising force in the area.
The first batch of 1,500 UPDF soldiers from Bunia were expected to fly back home last evening, according to Brig. Kale Kaihura, the overseer of the operations in Ituri region.
“One thousand five hundred are pulling out by plane now while others in Mongualo and Irumu are walking to the Ugandan border. We are doing this according to our own schedule,†he said.
However, the exercise was delayed till today after a plane mishap.
As the UPDF soldiers waited for the plane to bring them home, the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC) officials were locked up in meetings with Kaihura over the timetable for the withdrawal.
Quoting MONUC regional director Vadin Perfilia, Kaihura said the UN team was not ready to take over the security in Bunia. He said they needed more time to organise an adequate replacement force.
Congolese Minister for Peace Vital Kamhere told The New Vision that Kinshasa had given Uganda one month to carry out a phased withdrawal.
“We are in consultation with the UPDF about their plan to withdraw and the deployment of our police because we don’t want to leave a vacuum here,†Kamhere said.
He said Bangladesh had agreed to send about 4,000 military observers to boost the Uruguay team, which arrived on Wednesday. They are expected in the DR Congo in two weeks time.
Bunia Airport was busy yesterday as UN transport planes and chartered passenger aircraft from Entebbe and Kinshasa landed and took off amid tight security provided by the UPDF.
The UPDF were expected to hand over Bunia town to the newly-deployed Uruguayan forces.
“But the UPDF will keep control of the airports and the surrounding area until the withdrawal is complete,†Kaihura said.
Yesterday morning about 80 Kinshasa police, in navy blue khaki uniforms, armed with sub-machine guns, were deployed in the town.
They immediately boarded a big cattle-truck going to the town centre. Kamhere said they were the first of 3,000 due to be deployed in Ituri over the next few weeks. They were accompanied by Kabila’s deputy army commander Maj. Gen. Kisempia Sungilanga and Kamhere.
Sungilanga said their mission would be to provide security for the people of Bunia and their property. Kamhere said Kinshasa would deploy about 3,000 police in Ituri.
Meanwhile, miles away in Kinshasa, crowds were reported to be celebrating the UPDF departure from Ituri. Uganda has been criticised for its involvement in Ituri province, with international observers accusing it of being a destabilising force in the area.