NATIONAL NEWS NEW VISION, Friday, November 1, 2013 3 EAC still THE CONCERN strong –govt says a Congo By Henry Sekanjako chopper bombed its area. The Government has described Tanzania’s remarks on barring By Cyprian Musoke all its responsible officials from participating in any East Uganda has protested the bombing African community (EAC) of its territory by the DR Congo matters initiated by Uganda, army helicopter on Wednesday, in Kenya and Rwanda as unfair. pursuit of M23 rebels. On Wednesday, Tanzania’s Four people in Maziba village, East African co-operation district, were injured in the minister Samwel Sitta attack. reportedly instructed all In a diplomatic protest note responsible authorities not to to the Congo Embassy and the participate in matters initiated United Nations (UN) by foreign by the three governments. affairs minister Sam Kutesa However, according to the yesterday, Uganda protested the state minister for the East violation of its territorial integrity African affairs, Shem Bageine and sovereignty. During separate the three countries have only meetings at ministry headquarters, met to discuss issues already Kutesa said Uganda will appreciate agreed on by the rest of the a formal explanation from Congo partner states. and the UN on the circumstances Bageine told New Vision surrounding the bombing. yesterday that the meetings Jean Pierre Masala, charge held by Uganda, Kenya and d’Affaires, represented the embassy, Uganda protests Rwanda were of a consultative while Birgit Gerstenberg, the nature. country representative of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights led the UN team. PROTEST NOTE IN FULL Congo aggression The Government of the Repub- lic of Uganda expresses deep concern over the unprovoked violation of its territorial in- tegrity and sovereignty by the Uganda beefs up troops at border Bageine combined forces of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Bageine, who is in Burundi Republic of Congo and the By Attractor Kamahoro All rebels interviewed expressed attending EAC meetings, United Nations. A FARDC Puma and Bwogi Buyera M23 IN KISORO fear of joining refugees in the camp added: “There is no rule in the military helicopter flying along after causing suffering to them. protocol that stops any partner the border fired one bomb Several armoured personnel carriers Mwamba said the rebels withdrew state from holding consultative at Maziba Trading Centre in bearing the Ugandan flag and the Over 100 soldiers of the M23 from their territory on the orders of meetings on any matter.” Bunagana. The same helicopter Uganda People’s Defence Forces rebel group, who fled to Uganda on MONUSCO at the onset of the peace Regional affairs minister fired shots from a machine (UPDF) are patrolling areas on the Wednesday remain camped at Kisoro talks. Asuman Kiyingi called for calm gun which in total injured four Uganda-DR Congo border. Barracks after the Congolese army “Little did we know that they were and assured Ugandans among Ugandans, on 30th October, Trucks also ferried in soldiers from flashed them out of eastern Congo. reorganising and that we would never other members of the EAC that 2013 at about 1630 hrs. the Mbarara-based UPDF Second The commanding officer, Lt. Col. regain our territory. the community was still strong. Uganda protests in the strong- Division. Basil Amodoi, yesterday said that after M23 had captured parts of “It is a very unfortunate est terms possible the violation Calm had by last evening returned they are disarmed, the rebels would eastern Congo and was in areas like thing but our understanding of its territorial integrity and to the border areas of Bunagana be screened and integrated in the Rwankuba, Rubaale, Kyengerero, is that EAC is still very strong sovereignty, as referenced township and Muramba sub-county. refugee community at Nyakabande Kiwanja, Rutshuru, Bunagana, no matter what is being said above. On the Congolese side of the Transit Centre. Kibumba and Rumangabo. by Tanzania. we are still on In this regard, the Government border, heavily armed Congolese “Our role is to disarm them and hand “Each time they attacked, we would board,” he said. of the Republic of Uganda will soldiers with their South African them over to the camp authorities for simply retreat until we were pushed Kiyingi added that there could appreciate a formal explana- and Tanzanian allies, under United further screening and registration,” to the mountains of Bukima, Runyoni be some misunderstandings, tion from the DRC Government Nations Intervention Brigade, were Amodoi said as he inspected groups and Rwankuba. We could not go but the EAC was ready to sort and the United Nations on the seen patrolling and manning the of M23 in the barracks compound. further so we hit back prompting them out. He said Uganda circumstances surrounding the border entry point at Bunagana. He said the army had provided them them to launch air attacks that have had not got any formal bombing of her territory. The Residents of Giharo village, where maize flour for porridge. completely flashed us out of Congo,” communication from Tanzania Government of the Republic of two people were injured and some Major Albert Mwamba of the rebel he said. Both the Government and regarding its decision. Uganda has a duty and respon- houses destroyed, have started group’s Fourth battalion said some rebel forces suffered heavy losses, Reports also quoted Kenya’s sibility to protect its territory returning to their homes. Ahamed rebels fled to Rwanda, while others according to the fleeing rebels. president Uhuru Kenyatta and her citizens, and therefore Dwokha, the Kisoro RDC, told were blocked by the Government Meanwhile, three people are still giving assurances that the seeks assurances that such journalists that the UPDF is in control forces to whom they surrendered in Hospital nursing the EAC community was still going violations will not occur again. of the area and that any incursion into and were whisked to Kinshasha as injuries sustained when a Congo strong, dismissing fears that the country will be met with force. prisoners of war. chopper bombed Maziba village. the union could be headed for collapse.