Rwanda Troops Worry Ntungamo
Mar 19, 2003
RWANDA has deployed at least 2,000 troops on its border with Uganda, heightening fear of an attack among the border residents.<br>
By K. Muhanga
and Anne Mugisa
RWANDA has deployed at least 2,000 troops on its border with Uganda, heightening fear of an attack among the border residents.
Intelligence sources and residents of Mirama hills and Kigando border villages said last week the troops are deployed at Rwentanga hills, Nyamiyonga, Nyabwehumbeije and Mudugudu settlement in Umutara prefecture overlooking Ntungamo district.
Rwandan troops are also deployed at Kiwanja close to Bunagana border post in Kisoro at the Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo border, sources said.
“They have even dug trenches,†the sources said. The residents said the Rwandan army had closed all crossing-points into Rwanda and instructed the Ugandan residents going to see relatives in Rwanda to cross through Mirama border.
“All these deployments are within five kilometres of the border, contrary to our friendship conference of Kabale and Mweya,†a UPDF field commander said.
In a joint security meeting at White Horse Inn in Kabale recently, the two armies agreed to create a buffer zone of not less than 25km from the common border.
UPDF 2nd Division commander Col. Poteri Kivuna and the overall border liaison officer Lt. Col. Apollo Kasiita Gowa confirmed the deployment. Ends
and Anne Mugisa
RWANDA has deployed at least 2,000 troops on its border with Uganda, heightening fear of an attack among the border residents.
Intelligence sources and residents of Mirama hills and Kigando border villages said last week the troops are deployed at Rwentanga hills, Nyamiyonga, Nyabwehumbeije and Mudugudu settlement in Umutara prefecture overlooking Ntungamo district.
Rwandan troops are also deployed at Kiwanja close to Bunagana border post in Kisoro at the Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo border, sources said.
“They have even dug trenches,†the sources said. The residents said the Rwandan army had closed all crossing-points into Rwanda and instructed the Ugandan residents going to see relatives in Rwanda to cross through Mirama border.
“All these deployments are within five kilometres of the border, contrary to our friendship conference of Kabale and Mweya,†a UPDF field commander said.
In a joint security meeting at White Horse Inn in Kabale recently, the two armies agreed to create a buffer zone of not less than 25km from the common border.
UPDF 2nd Division commander Col. Poteri Kivuna and the overall border liaison officer Lt. Col. Apollo Kasiita Gowa confirmed the deployment. Ends