Grace Matsiko
25 January 2008
Kampala — ABOUT eight top rebel commanders of a force allied to dissident General Laurent Nkunda, have been handed to Congolese authorities.
The rebel commanders were captured in Bunagana, in the western district of Kisoro on January 15, as they attempted to enter Uganda illegally. They were detained at a military barracks, officers in the UPDF said earlier yesterday.
The rebels were handed over to DRC military representatives, Maj. Kosi Biriso and Maj. Zipherine Lwaba at Mpondwe border post in Kasese, last evening, UPDF 2nd Division spokesman, Lt. Kiconco Tabaro told Daily Monitor.
"We handed them over this evening and the Chief of Military Intelligence, Col. Leo Kyanda was represented by the UPDF 2nd Division Intelligence Officer, Maj. Barnabas Mugonzo," Lt. Kiconco said.
The hand over of the rebels comes a day after Gen. Nkunda signed a peace agreement with the DRC President Joseph Kabila in the eastern town of Goma.
"On January 15, our intelligence surveillance team operating in Bunagana arrested eight Congolese from the group known as MRC (Congolese Revolutionary Movement) of Gen. Bwambale Kakolere, which operates in Ituri region," Kiconco said.
"They were arrested and the security suspects they were planning to join Gen. Nkunda," he added.
He said the capture of the rebels was in conformity with the Great Lakes regional security pact that gives member countries responsibility to arrest persons who are organizing armed rebellion against neighbours.
"DRC and Monuc should emulate what we have done because there are many Ugandan armed groups operating in their territory," he added.
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