Uganda, DRC, Sudan agree to fight rebels

By John Thawite

Feb 10, 2007 (KAMPALA) — Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan have resolved to jointly fight rebels operating along their common borders, the Sunday Vision reported.

They have agreed to exchange information, have joint military teams to verify the location of rebels and set up joint verification missions in the respective countries.

This was during a one-day security meeting at Hotel Margherita in Kasese last week chaired by the Ugandan people’s Defence Forces (UPDF) second Division commander, Brig. Hudson Mukasa who also led the UPDF delegation.

Brig. Gen. Bahuma Ambamba led the DRC army side while Col. Adoor Deng headed the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army delegation. The UN peace keeping force in the Congo (MONUC) delegation was led by Brig. Gen. Duma Mdutyana.

Issuing a press statement after the meeting, the Rwenzori Mountains Alpine Brigade spokesperson, Lt. Robert Kamara and the 2nd Division Intelligence Officer, Capt. Paul Muwonge, said the UPDF and DRC army had agreed to set up liaison offices in Congolese towns of Bunia and Aba and Arua and Kisoro in Uganda. They said the meeting was a follow-up to the Great lakes Region Pact on security, stability and development that was held on December 15, 2006. At the December meeting, Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Joseph Kabila (DRC), agreed to eliminate their crossborder insecurity.

The Lord’s Resistance Army rebels are operating in the Garamba zone in the DRC after fleeing from Sudan while remnants of the Allied Democratic Front are also in the Rwenzori Mountains of eastern DRC.

(Sunday Vision)