OVER 50 FEARLESS CONGOLESE SOLDIERS TAKE OVER UGANDAN TERRITORY

Congolese and Ugandan Authorities for a Crisis meeting in Acu village, Asina Parish, Abanga Sub-County, Zombo District in May last year. Photo/ Mike Rwothomio 

By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo

Over 50 armed DR Congo soldiers led by the Resident District Commissioner of Mahagi Territory, in Ituri Province have illegally crossed into a Ugandan Territory at Awasi center, Afuda Parish, Jangokoro Sub-County, Zombo District on January 3, 2025.

Local leaders say the Congolese are claiming ownership of that Ugandan Territory, where Zombo district local government is undertaking borehole drilling Project for the community.

The water project is set to benefit thousands of community from both Uganda and DR Congo, who share similar culture, tradition and language.

Festus Ayikobua, the Resident District Commissioner Zombo confirmed the incursion by the Congolese Soldiers, explaining that,  “we received information that my colleague who is also RDC in Mahagi has come with more than 50 soldiers to stop water construction which is in my Sub County,”

Authorities say the act out rightly contravenes the international law, and Zombo RDC Ayikobua who vehemently condemned the Congolese illegal incursion into Ugandan territory added that, “we decided to do consultation with our security team and as I talk now, the Congolese have withdrawn from our territory.”

He assured of calm, advising Congolese Authorities to use appropriate and amicable measures of resolving issues, adding that Ugandan Soldiers were already deployed to pacify the area.

The territorial boundary being claimed by the Congolese Authorities, has been used by Uganda through Zombo District local government for ages, local leaders say.

The LCV chairperson of Zombo James Oruna Oyullu, calls for intervention of internal affairs ministry and Kinshasa government to resolve the border line issue, noting that the reason for these Congolese incursion was unclear.

“The purpose of their coming should have been very clear to us as leaders, they were supposed to come first to us to ascertain why we drilled water in that particular place” Oyullu explained in an interview.

Oyullu added that, “the area they are claiming, to make it worse is not even in DR Congo, and it is in Uganda at the border.”

Since early 2000, the Long-standing territorial disputes between Uganda and DR Congo has continued to persist, notwithstanding the continuous efforts between the two states to amicably resolve it.

Apparently, Ugandan traders mainly from Paidha town council, Zombo District, are complaining about harsh treatment they are subjected to by Congolese Authorities while crossing to Awasi Weekly Market in DR Congo.

In a similar vein,   last year in May,  Congolese locals took over three  Ugandan  villages of Acu, Oyaro, and Acu cell  in Padea town council and   Abanga Sub-County, stoking tension in the community, until authorities from DR Congo and Uganda convened a crisis meeting at Acu village, to resolve the matter.

Last year, the Governments of Uganda and DR Congo held a significant joint technical committee meeting in Goma DR Congo, aimed at reaffirming their common border and developing a comprehensive roadmap and budget for reaffirmation and appropriating 817 kilometers of the shared Ugandan and DR Congo border.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda is continuously playing central role to execute crucial diplomatic engagement with DR Congo.

This effort is vital for maintaining peaceful relations and clear demarcation between the two Countries.

According to Ugandan foreign affairs ministry, to date, only 44.8 kilometers of the border have been reaffirmed, specifically the 28- kilometer stretch from Offo/Vurra and the 16.8-kilometer section from Sarambwe/Bwindi, which reflect progress, though there is still much to be done to fully reaffirm the entire border.