Security forces have arrested 42 men believed to be members of the M23 rebel group.
The men were arrested in Kisoro district amidst reports that fighting has resumed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Ugandan security arrested the rebels on Thursday night at Busigi cell in Busanza Sub County near the border.
The Local Council one Chairperson for Busigi cell, Johnson Nkurunziza, says that the rebels crossed to Uganda during a heavy gunfire exchange with the DRC government army.
According to Nkurunziza, the rebels started running from DRC and camping in their village at around 1:00pm. Nkunrunziza says that a few hours later the DRC army also appeared at the border pursuing the rebels. The DRC forces are said to have fired randomly into Uganda after failing to get the rebels. Nobody was injured.
Hajji Shafique Ssekandi, the Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, confirms that 42 M23 rebels were arrested and are being detained at Kisoro Police Station. Ssekandi also says that the rebels will be transferred to Bihanga Military Training School in Ibanda District.
Ssekandi says that over one hundred refugees from the DRC have already crossed to Uganda and are now at Nyakabande Transit Camp. He says that business in the area and along the border has returned to normal.
Ssekandi also says that the Ugandan security in now on the alert along the border. He calls upon local residents not to harm refugees or rebels that cross into Uganda but instead hand them over to relevant authorities.
