UPDF Captures Two DRC Airports

Mar 20, 2003

THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces have captured two more strategic airports in the Democratic Republic of Congo from the Union of Patriotic Congolese (UPC) rebels.

By Felix Osike in Arua
THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces have captured two more strategic airports in the Democratic Republic of Congo from the Union of Patriotic Congolese (UPC) rebels.
Army Spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said the UPDF occupied Fataki and Bule airports and surrounding towns on Wednesday night after a short battle.
Bule is the birthplace of UPC leader Thomas Lubanga, who fell out with the UPDF recently.
Fataki, 60km northeast of Bunia, was the scene of the battle between UPC and the UPDF on March 6.
Last week the UPDF captured Munbgwallo airport which was also a UPC stronghold.
The overseer of the military operations in Ituri, Brig. Kale Kaihura, last week ordered UPC to quit the airports considered strategic to Uganda.
He said the capture of the airports would deny rebels fighting Uganda a supplies base.
Fighting continued in Fataki this week as a ceasefire accord was signed in Bunia by six belligerent forces in Ituri region.
UPC did not sign the Ituri cessation of hostilities agreement reached on Tuesday. Ends

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