Kaihura Asks UN To Get Peacekeepers For Ituri Region
Mar 26, 2003
BRIGADIER Kale Kaihura, the overseer of UPDF operations in Congo, has asked the United Nations and signatories to the Lusaka Peace Accord to identify a third party to take over from the UPDF to keep peace in Ituri,
BRIGADIER Kale Kaihura, the overseer of UPDF operations in Congo, has asked the United Nations and signatories to the Lusaka Peace Accord to identify a third party to take over from the UPDF to keep peace in Ituri, reports Emmy Allio.
Kaihura said the UPDF will stick to the April 24 deadline to quit Ituri.
He said Uganda is not interested in prolonging its stay in Congo because it had achieved its objectives. The UPDF ousted Thomas Lubanga’s Union of Patriotic Congolese (UPC) rebel group from Ituri’s main town, Bunia, on March 6.
He said the army had captured all the 11 strategic airstrips in Ituri initially under UPC.
He named the airstrips as Fataki, Bunia, Tchomia, Mukambo, Mahagi, Irumu, Mungbwallo, Aruu, Yedi, Kpandruma and Bule.
He said the aim of capturing the airstrips was “to deny the same external actors opportunity of using these airfields to destabilise Ituri.â€
He said the army has effectively brought the situation in Ituri under control as mandated under the Lusaka agreement and the Luanda protocol.
Kaihura said the UPDF went to Ituri to stop supplies of arms to Ugandan dissidents in the area.
He said the UPDF also wanted to ensure that the Ituri Pacification Commission was installed as the only guarantee for peaceful resolution of the conflict in the area.
Meanwhile, the army said three more rebels of People’s Redemption Army had surrendered to the UPDF in Ituri province.
Earlier, two of the PRA officers; renegade UPDF officers Major Tom Mugizi and Capt. Muhammad Kiwanuka surrendered to the UPDF.
The latest surrender brings to 27, the total of the Rwanda-backed rebels in UPDF custody. The PRA surrendered after the UPDF captured Fataki and Bule towns.
Ends
Kaihura said the UPDF will stick to the April 24 deadline to quit Ituri.
He said Uganda is not interested in prolonging its stay in Congo because it had achieved its objectives. The UPDF ousted Thomas Lubanga’s Union of Patriotic Congolese (UPC) rebel group from Ituri’s main town, Bunia, on March 6.
He said the army had captured all the 11 strategic airstrips in Ituri initially under UPC.
He named the airstrips as Fataki, Bunia, Tchomia, Mukambo, Mahagi, Irumu, Mungbwallo, Aruu, Yedi, Kpandruma and Bule.
He said the aim of capturing the airstrips was “to deny the same external actors opportunity of using these airfields to destabilise Ituri.â€
He said the army has effectively brought the situation in Ituri under control as mandated under the Lusaka agreement and the Luanda protocol.
Kaihura said the UPDF went to Ituri to stop supplies of arms to Ugandan dissidents in the area.
He said the UPDF also wanted to ensure that the Ituri Pacification Commission was installed as the only guarantee for peaceful resolution of the conflict in the area.
Meanwhile, the army said three more rebels of People’s Redemption Army had surrendered to the UPDF in Ituri province.
Earlier, two of the PRA officers; renegade UPDF officers Major Tom Mugizi and Capt. Muhammad Kiwanuka surrendered to the UPDF.
The latest surrender brings to 27, the total of the Rwanda-backed rebels in UPDF custody. The PRA surrendered after the UPDF captured Fataki and Bule towns.
Ends