Kampala — THE Congolese government has praised Uganda for arresting the leader of an Ituri-based rebel group.

Ugandan authorities recently arrested a Congolese warlord, Bwambale Kakolele, the leader of the Congolese Revolutionary Movement. The group was recently expelled from Uganda.

DRC Foreign Minister Ramazani Baya told journalists in Kinshasa at the weekend, "The arrests demonstrated a positive change of the Ugandan government's attitude toward the Ituri militia groups which have posed a threat to security in northeast DRC."

"The DRC has always hoped to solve the problem of the militia groups within the four-nation framework of Uganda, Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda."

He said the two countries were likely to discuss the militia groups' issue at the four nations' summit in Bujumbura, Burundi on April 20.

But another two Congolese rebel leaders, whose names were also published in the Sunday Vision have denied reports that Ugandan officials arrested them over illegal possession of arms. Goston Kangele and Paulin Shebeto denied reports that they had illegally sneaked into the country and that they were in hiding.

"I am here. I have not been arrested by anyone. I do not understand the motive behind claims that I have been arrested," Kangele said on Sunday.

While at his Nakulabye house Kangele also showed a one-month visa given to him by Uganda immigration authorities at Chyanika border post in Kanungu district.

He also displayed letters with Uganda's foreign affairs ministry headed paper recommending him for visas to South Africa and Ethiopia.

"I helped in ousting (Congo former presidents) Mobutu Ssese Seko and Laurent Kabila. I am personally tired of war, I now belong to an unarmed opposition of the DRC," said Kangele.

Kangele also showed Daily Monitor, a nomination letter for him to run for the Masisi, Goma Parliamentary seat in the June general elections.

He said he had come back to Uganda to print posters for his campaign. Kangele denied links with Kinshasa accuses Kampala of supporting armed Congolese rebels while Kampala counter accuses Kinshasa of failing to deal with anti-Uganda sentiments.