Nord-Kivu Hutus flee to Uganda

At least 350 Hutus of Congolese origin have fled to Uganda from their homes in Ruthshuru zone, Nord-Kivu Province, following the massive deployment in the area of Rwandan troops during the past week, the semi-official Ugandan 'New Vision' newspaper on Tuesday. The displaced, mostly women and children, fled Kitagoma village in eastern DRC to Busanza refugee transit camp, about 15 km west of Kisoro town, western Uganda, the paper reported. Kisoro District chairman John Ntibiringirwa and Camp Commandant Benon Tumuhimbise had confirmed the movement and security personnel were monitoring the situation, it said. Some of the displaced Congolese claimed at least 19 compatriots had been killed by soldiers in Rwandan uniform. Tension is reported to be high in Nord-Kivu, particularly around Rutshuru and Lubero, as a result of a power struggle between the Rwandan-backed Goma faction and Ugandan-backed Kisangani grouping of the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD).