There is heavy UPDF and police deployment at Bunagana border in Kisoro District after Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) officials claiming that armed Congolese rebels crossed back overnight into the country from their longtime refuge in Uganda and following the recovery of seven guns from unidentified people on Saturday night.
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Police patrol stumbled on unidentified people loading six sub machine guns, a PK rifle, five magazines and seventy nine bullets in a premio vehicle registration number UAS 978B in a bush near the common border with the Democratic Republic of Congo- DRC. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled into the DRC when they saw Police patrol approaching them.
Now, Hajji Shafique Ssekandi, the Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, says they have decided to deploy UPDF and Police at the border to tighten security since they haven’t established why the weapons were being smuggled into Uganda.
He says the officers will screen whoever enters the country to prevent any infiltration by wrong elements. Jane Acan, the Acting Kisoro District Police Commander, says they are investigating the sources of arms under file number SD04/14/01/2017.
According to Acan, they have also embarked on the manhunt for the owner of the Premio vehicle only identified as Edward, a special hire driver in Kisoro town. Abel Bizimana, the Kisoro LC V Chairperson, says the recovery of the guns being smuggled into the district shows that the security is still wanting.
He wants the Inspector General of Police, General Edward Kale Kayihura to rush to the district to find a lasting solution to the escalation of crime. Kisoro District is currently battling an escalation of gun related crimes and aggravated robberies.
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Innocent Mugisha, a prominent businessman in Kisoro town was gunned down by unknown assailants at his home on December 22, 2016. The gunmen also shot Steven Yumvirusaba before fleeing from the scene.
The attack on the duo came a month after 35-year-old Jean Ntanuheza, a Rwandan national was killed and his body dumped at a playground in Buhuro village. On November 20th, 2016, Efrance Uzamukunda, a resident of Murora village was shot by gun wielding men at Kibugu trading center near Kibugu Church of Uganda, about seven miles to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In August this year, Moses Kilongosi, an Officer attached to the Field Force Patrol (FFP) was killed by unknown assailants while on guard duty at the office of Kisoro Resident State Attorney along Mutanda road in Central division in Kisoro Municipality.
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