Uganda on Tuesday sealed its Bunagana border post with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Kisoro district over claims that M23 rebels in the eastern DRC were using it to finance their activities.
The rebels were allegedly taxing trucks from Uganda and using the areas of Bunagana and Rutshuru that are under their control to get revenue.
The announcement was made by the Ugandan People's Defence Forces (UPD) Second Division commander Brigadier Patrick yesterday at a meeting with Kisoro district security committee.
Army spokesperson Colonel Felix Kulayige confirmed the development.
"It's true we have temporarily closed the border on the request of Kinshasa government because the M23 rebels had started collecting money from the trucks carrying goods from Uganda to Democratic Republic of Congo," he said.
President Yoweri Museveni, who is on a state visit to Sri Lanka, ordered the closure of the border, he said.
Kulaigye said this is bad news for Uganda as the country will lose hundreds of millions because trade between the two nations along the border is suspended. It will also affect Ugandans involved in small businesses in the area.
The closure of this border comes two months after a leaked UN report accused Uganda and Rwanda of aiding M23 rebels in eastern DRC. The two nations have since denied any wrongdoing.
The authorities say the border post was benefitting the rebels, who have changed their name to the Congolese Revolutionary Army, fighting President Joseph Kabila's government in eastern DRC.
Kisoro resident district commissioner Ahmed Doka on Tuesday said Uganda's immigration and customs office at Bunagana border post accessing North Kivu region has not been operational.
"Uganda was allowing people to cross to Congo without paying visa fees. But in Congo, the M23 group charges visa fees and taxes for movement of persons, vehicles and goods ferried across. This means that M23 were earning revenue because of our open border. To remove suspicion, the government has decided to close the border," Doka said.
Other sources say the development followed Kinshasa government's request to Uganda to close the border post, which, they said, was being used by the rebels to raise money through taxes.
UPDF's 63rd Battalion under the command of Major John Mukasa has since taken over security along Uganda's border with Congo. Until the situation returns to normal, Uganda has temporarily closed the south-western border with Congo.
UPDF have been deployed at the south-western Bunagana border in Kisoro district until the DRC situation improves.
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" THE BORDER SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED UNTIL KINSAHAHSA MAKES A MOVE TO SPEAK TO THE DISSIDENT SOLDIERS WHOM ARE REVOLTING FOR MULTIPLE REASONS". AS WE CAN SEE THIS ARTICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE UN REPORT AS IN MUCH IN A WAY IT DOES; WHAT THIS ARTICLE SAYS , KABILA ASKED UGANDA TO CLOSE ITS BORDER FROM FEAR OF TAXING BY THE REBEL SOLDIERS!!!!!! AS FOR THE REPORT BY THE UNITED NATIONS THEY HAVE BEEN SELLING ALOT OF ???? ONCE A LIAR ALWAYS A LIAR, DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE THEY HAVE BEEN SHOWING NOTHING BUT A BAD HAND SO WHY NOW ARE THEY TELLINMG THE TRUTH??? THEY ARE STILL LIEING THEY ARE PROPGANDA SELLING SUBTERFUGE AS ALWAYS!!!.. ALL AFRICA NEEDS TO BOND PROPERLY ENABLING FOR MORE TRUST LOVE UNITY A TO GIVE OUR YOUTHS A CHANCE IN LIFE. RIGHT NOW AFRICA IS A VERY YOUNG CONTINENT AND THESE DEVISL WILL DO EVERYTHING TO COMMIT GENOCIDE ONTHE CONTINENT .. THEY ARE BUILDING THIER WHOLE WORLD AROUND SELLING DEATH AND MURDER, THATS ALL THEY HAVE FOR SALE!!! CERTAINLY SOMETHING IN YOUR MIND MUST BE TELLING YOU THAT THAT IS NOT RIGHT!!! IT CAN NOT BE RIGHT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES???????? MURDER AND DEATH, CHAOS ,CONFLICTS MORE MURDERS MORE DEATH MORE CONFLICTS MORE MISERY !!!!!!! WHERE IS THE HAPPINNES WITH THESE PEOPLE???? THERE IS NONE ;; TAKE A GOOD LOOK!! AT EVERY ANGLE THERE IS WAR THEN ; THERE IS MORE WAR ;A CONTIUATION OF MORE WARS AND ALOT OF LIES CONFUSION DIVISIONS AND REINFORCING OF THIER SUPERIRORITY!!.
YOWERI MUSEVENI IS FIGHTING FOR HIS OWN SURVIVAL. MILITARY DICTATROSHIPS ARE A THING OF THE PAST. HE HAS DONE WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE AGES AGO.
LAWLESSNESS IN THE REGION BENEFITS THE WEST MORE THAN THE AFRICANS. ALL THE AMUNITION AND WEAPONRY ARE NOT MADE IN THE REGION.
YOU ARE NOT CONGOLESE WHY ARE YOU ANGRY.M23 IS A TUTSI LED MOVEMENT. THESE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR COUNTRY. THEY WILL NOT BUILD ANOTHER ONE BY RAPPING AND CUTTING HUMAN BODIES. IS THAT THE SORT OF TUTSI VISION YOU HAVE FOR AFRICA? YOU ARE A EITHER INSANE OR A PERVERT.
PEACE AND STABILITY WILL COME WITH THE REMOVAL OF MUSEVENI AND PAUL KAGAME AND JOSEPH KABILA. ECONOMIC INTEGRATION IS THE KEY FO LONG LATING PEACE, EUROPE IS COMING TOGETHER. BORDERS IN EUROPE ARE NONEXISTANT. AFRICA SHOULD STOP MAINTANING DICTATORS BY FUELLING MINI WARS THAT HAVE NO MEANING.