Uganda hands over Congolese security officers who fled M23 assault

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Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has handed over to the Democratic Republic of Congo government Congolese security officers and civilians who recently fled to Uganda due to insecurity.

The group included a total of 140 Congolese Nationals comprising 98 police officers, 02 civilian males (1 disabled), 13 women and 27 children.

According to a statement released by the UPDF 2nd Infantry Division Public Information Officer Maj Kiconco Tabaro, the groups set off early Friday (August 16) from Ishasha Border in Kanungu District to the Mpwonde - Kasindi border post in Kasese District. Inside DRC, the group was received at the Kasindi border post late afternoon.

UPDF and FARDC at Kasindi border post. (Courtesy photo)

Early this month, a group of M23 with armoured and other advanced military equipment took control of the Nyaruhanje border post in DRC stopping movement into Congo.

Information from reliable sources indicated that the group took over Congolese military barracks about four kilometres from the Ishasha border post in Kanungu. It is believed that the majority of the police officers who sought refuge were victims of these attacks.

According to Tabaro, the Congolese security officers have been in a safe environment on the Ugandan side following M23 taking control of Kiwanza, Nyamirima, Buganza Nyaruhanje and Ishasha in Rutchuru region - North Kivu recently. The situation has led to an influx of Congolese nationals including Police officers into Uganda.

This insecurity has been going on for several years with the Uganda Government receiving many refugees with hundreds of them received weekly at Matanda transit camp in Kanungu and Nyakabande Transit camp in Kisoro district. 

“This is not the first time to receive Congolese security officers on the Ugandan side after skirmishes on their side. We received them before, we treated them as per international law requirements, we have always given safe passage, which is a humanitarian act for our counterparts and we will always do our best for purposes of regional security and in the spirit of Pan-Africanism. This spirit is a culmination of cordial relations the two countries, Uganda and DRC enjoy,” Tabaro said in the statement.

Lt Col Tembo Sitende, Ugandan battalion Commander at the border in Kanungu with UPDF and FARDC joint verification and Intelligence taskforce officials, witnessed the handover exercise, and they accompanied the group on their way to Mpwonde - Kasindi in Kasese district.

Some of the rifles and magazines the security officers crossed the border with being counted. (Courtesy photo)

On Monday (August 12), Lt Col Jacob Apunia did a verification exercise and confirmed that all of them were Congolese National Police Officers who crossed for safety with 41 assault rifles, 55 fully loaded magazines, 10 empty magazines, 1 hand grenade, 2 helmets and 1 rocket-propelled grenade fuse after M23 took control of areas along borders in DRC.

Meanwhile, Congolese civilian refugees continue to enter Uganda from areas of Katwiguru, Kiseguro, Binza, Nyabanira, Kisharo, Ntamugenga, Nyamirima, Karambirp, Nyanzari, all from the Rutchuru region. Notable crossing points are Kyeshero and Ishasha in Kanungu Districts and Bunagana and Nkuringo in Kisoro.

Tabaro emphasised that the UPDF 2nd Infantry Division continues to tighten surveillance and reactivate vigilance mechanisms at the borderline to deter possible infiltration by negative elements operating in the region.