Security heightened along Uganda-DRC border after bomb threats

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is heightened security surveillance on the shores of Lake Albert in the Bunyoro region, which shares a porous border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The move follows terror alerts which were followed by two explosions in Komamboga, a suburb of Kampala and on a Bushenyi bound bus within less than a week. Each of the incidents claimed a life and left a few other people nursing injuries.

In the aftermath, security agencies linked the attacks to the Allied Democratic Forces-ADF, one of the groups based in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the attacks were coordinated by one Muhammed Nkalubo, a known commander of the Allied Democratic Force.

Now, areas surrounding the border have woken up to the heavy deployment of police, Uganda Peoples Defence Forces-UPDF soldiers and sister security agencies seen mostly at landing sites bordering DRC in the Albertine region. The major deployment is at Sebigoro, Kaiso, Ndaiga, Butiaba, Bugoma, Kitebere, and Wanseko landing sites in Hoima, Kagadi, Kikuube and Buliisa districts respectively.

Julius Hakiza, the Albert Region Police Spokesperson says the deployment is meant to provide maximum security and ensure that no wrong element enter the country from DRC through Lake Albert. Hakiza says that security officials in the region are on high alert to stop illegal entry into the country.

Buliisa Resident District Commissioner-RDC Longino Bahebwa says that they have tightened security along the Uganda-DRC border in Buliisa to control cross border movement and further influx of DRC nationals into Uganda. He also called on residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons in their area to security for quick action.

Kikuube Resident District Commissioner-RDC Amlan Tumusiime equally says they have beefed up security in the district to ensure that no person from the DRC enters at this time when the country is under threat from terrorists.

James Ngabirombo, a resident at Butiaba landing site in Buliisa district welcomes the heavy deployment along the Uganda-DRC border in the Albertine adding that this will help avert illegal entry of wrong elements from DRC into the country.

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