Congo Gunmen Attack Bundibugyo Villagers
New Vision (Kampala)
February 13, 2003
Posted to the web February 13, 2003
Vision Reporter
Kampala
UNIFORMED armed attackers believed to be Congo rebels from Ituri region in the DRC, have raided Rwebisengo, Bundibugyo district, killing one Ugandan and looting nearly 400 head of cattle.
Army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza yesterday said the army had recovered 70 of the cattle.
Bantariza said the raiders, whom he described as 'enemies of Uganda', first raided the area on February 7 and took 370 head of cattle.
"When our forces tried to follow, we discovered a big group of about 100 on the Congo side trying to lure us into a trap," he said on phone.
"they are commanded by people calling themselves Banyamulenge with names like Ntangaro, Rwagasole, Kamanzi and Safari," Bantariza said.
He said these were the names of rebel leader, Thomas Lubanga's Union for Patriotic Congolese (UPC) commanders.
He said they were raiding the cattle in Rwebisengo to lure the UPDF into a fight.
"We have restrained ourselves so far but there is a limit to provocation," Bantariza said.
Military and civilian sources in Rwebisengo trading centre said the gunmen, wielding AK47 rifles, raided Ngoma and Budiba villages along the Semliki river banks on February 10, herding away another 26 head of cattle.
"Some people thought it was the Lendu but this is a different organised group," the deputy commander of the Rwenzori Alpine Mountain Brigade, Lt. Col. David Karuhanga, said in Kasese yesterday.
But he said the situation was calm now after heavy UPDF deployment in the area.
Eyewitnesses said on February 6, the attackers fired at a group of Ugandan security officials who were assessing the situation.
Those who have lost their cattle include Kesi Nkabona who lost 200 in the February 4 raid.
The attack prompted the American defence attache to fly to the area on Saturday.
