13 May 2008
editorial
Kampala — President Museveni on Sunday discussed the border dispute with his Congolese counterpart, Joseph Kabila, in Tanzania. The meeting followed reports that Congolese forces moved their border post four kilometres closer to Uganda.
Congo had earlier complained that Uganda had entered her territory. The two presidents last September signed an agreement to carry out the joint re-marking of the international boundary between the two countries.
In the Ngurdoto Agreement, they agreed to set up a joint team of experts to trace the international boundary.
Priority was to be given to resolving the disputed Rukwanzi Island on Lake Albert and the border areas of Mahagi, Aru and Vurra in West Nile.
The team that has been investigating the matter was to issue a report which the technical team would use to re-demarcate the border line with the help of the former colonial masters Britain and Belgium.
But before the report was released, Congo sent its troops to Vuura customs border for unclear reasons. This has led to the disruption of cross-border trade and intimidation of border residents.
It is a clear violation of the agreement that was signed between the two leaders.
According to preliminary investigations, Rowans has been found to be 1.2km inside Uganda. Could Congo be reacting to these findings? Is there a correlation between the cancelling of the Tullow Oil contract by the Kinshasa government and the sending of the troops to the border?
The Ngurdoto Agreement laid a firm ground for resolving the border disputes and other outstanding issues. Unfortunately, most provisions in the agreement have not been implemented.
It is preposterous for Congo, whose citizens at the border benefit from the social services in Uganda, to stretch their actions to such levels on matters which can be resolved amicably. Congo should have waited for the joint border re-marking report before taking such radical action.
Congolese soldiers should withdraw to their former positions. Congo owes Uganda an explanation.
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