More on the DRC:
Museveni Orders UPDF Out of DRC
New Vision (Kampala)
April 18, 2003
Posted to the web April 18, 2003
John Kakande
Kampala
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has issued orders to the UPDF commanders in Uturi, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, to withdraw the troops not later than next Thursday 24, April.
The Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, James Wapakhabulo, told the press at Nakasero yesterday that Museveni, the Commander in Chief of the UPDF, issued the orders on Tuesday to Brigadier Kale Kaihura and the Ituri sector commander, Lt. Col. David Muhoozi.
"We shall not stay a day longer," vowed Wapakhabulo. The withdrawal will proceed regardless of whether the UN Security Council (UNSC) gets a neutral force to fill the vacuum or not.
Wapakhabulo also spoke on the relations between Uganda and Rwanda.
He said another round of talks between President Museveni and President Paul Kagame, under the British mediation initiative, was planned this month.
He maintained that Rwanda helped James Opoka, Besigye's aide, to join Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army and supported People's Redemption Army.
Wapakhabulo said some UPDF troops would withdraw by road while others in the Bunia sector will do so by air. About 6,000 troops will leave Congo.
Uganda has fears that there will be more ethnic massacres in Ituri once the UPDF withdraws, he said.
"The UN through the Security Council has not identified a neutral force to take over from UPDF," Wapakhabulo said, and warned the situation was volatile.
"We have told the UN and DRC, they better organise quickly a force to take over in Ituri. We have told them that even if they do not find any force, UPDF will withdraw. We shall not stay in Congo a day longer," he stated. |
