Ugandan army chief probes his troops on DRC fighting

Uganda's People's Defence Forces launched investigations on Monday into the role played by some of its army officers in the capture of Aru and Isiro towns in northeastern Congo by militias loyal to the anti-government faction leader Mbusa Nyamwisi, the 'New Vision' reported.

The Kampala newspaper reported on Tuesday that a meeting at army headquarters, chaired by army commander Maj-Gen Jeje Odongo, was convened to discuss the issue. The daily quoted sources as saying that top on the list of those being investigated is the 409th brigade commander in Arua, Lt-Col Fencasious Mugenyi. He reportedly assigned a platoon of his soldiers to help 32 Mbusa militiamen, led by Ide Paluku. The militia were transported from Beni through Kasese, Kampala and Arua, all Ugandan towns.

'New Vision' reported that three days after Mbusa's militias captured Aru on 26 September, an aircraft carrying some 60 other of his fighters and UPDF soldiers, disguised as Congolese citizens, landed in Isiro. "We are investigating our officers suspected of aiding Mbusa's people. Those in Isiro will be arrested and brought here," Brigadier Joram Mugume, the deputy army commander, said.

He added that the army had ordered the Mbusa militia to evacuate Aru and return its administration to the Congolese Liberation Front led by Jean-Pierre Bemba. "Bemba yesterday said he was disgusted with what was happening through the
apparent connivance of certain top UPDF officers," 'New Vision' reported.

Uganda pulled out of Isiro in May, leaving it under Bemba's control, the daily added.