Kanungu Aug. 4—Hundreds of D.R. Congo nationals are crossing into Uganda to escape intensified fighting between the Congolese government army and the Rwanda backed M23 rebels in Kivu province.
Over 3,000 Congolese nationals, including about 100 Congolese National Police officers, have crossed into Uganda’s southwestern district of Kanungu since Friday August 2nd. 2024 and more are still fleeing into Uganda.
The influx of Congolese refugees heightened Saturday August 3rd. when M23 rebels captured the Congolese town of Nyamilima in Rutshuru, north Kivu province, about 10 km. to the Uganda-D.R. Congo border of Ishasha in Kanungu district. The capture of Nyamilima town followed intensive fighting in the surrounding villages of Katwiguru, Nyabanira, Kiseguro, Ngwenda and Kiseguro which all fell to the rebels.
The UPDF 2nd Infantry division Information officer, Maj. Kiconco Tabaro, confirmed the influx of Congolese refuges through Ishaha and Kyeshro borders in Kanungu district and Nteko and Bunagana borders into Kisoro district. He said the Congolese Police officers are being handled in accordance with the international law and guidelines.
Maj. Tabaro called for calm as the UPDF is on standby to face any kind of fighting that crosses the border.
The M23 rebels led by Bisimwa and Makenga have been fighting the Congolese since March 2022, claiming that their fight is against discrimination, corruption and xenophobia.
