The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has stepped up surveillance along Uganda’s border with DR Congo, following fighting between government and rebel forces.
According to a statement issued by the UPDF 2nd Division infantry spokesperson, Kiconco Tabaro, the deployment followed increased threat levels of the fighting to the border communities.
“Fighting between different armed groups and forces in eastern DR Congo has led to an influx of refugees in Uganda and also increased threat levels to the border communities and the region,” Tabaro said in a statement.
In the recent past, fighting between different armed groups, especially M23 and Congolese government forces in the east of the country, has led to an influx of refugees in Uganda.
The refugees cross to Uganda through areas such as Bunagana and Nteko in Kisoro, Kyeshero and Ishasha in Kanungu and other small ungazetted routes.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Uganda hosts nearly 1.7 million refugees and asylum seekers.
Most refugees come from South Sudan (57%), DR Congo (32%), Somalia (3%) and Burundi (3%). Most of the refugees from DR Congo are settled in refugee settlements such as IGryandongo, Kyaka II in Kyegegwa district and Nakivale in Isingiro district.
Before being taken to settlements, the refugees are taken to transit centres of Nyakabande in Kisoro and Matanda in Kanungu.
Justifying the current heightened vigilance, Tabaro said: “The civilians in areas proximal to our common border, especially the elderly, the sick, pregnant women and children are vulnerable to attacks from armed fighters, hunger, displacement and loss of cultural values as fighting ranges. Many registered refugees are members of the Congolese communities. This complicates the humanitarian situation for border communities and the entire region.”
In a related development, 98 armed Congolese police officers were received yesterday evening at Ishasha border post, the UPDF confirmed.
“The security situation on our side is calm and there is no incursion into our territory. We shall continue to work with district security committees in the region to mobilise for the vigilance of border communities and to ensure thorough verification of fleeing Congolese civilians to avoid possible infiltration by negative elements into Uganda,” Tabaro said.
Apart from M23 and other rebel groups, the government of DR Congo is also fighting the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan rebel group that has allegedly killed hundreds of Congolese civilians.
On November 20, 2020, the UPDF, together with the DR Congo government forces, launched Operation Shujaa in Kivu and Ituri provinces.
The operation started with air strikes that were later followed by a ground offensive. Since then, several of the group’s camps in DR Congo and cells in Uganda have been destroyed.
