The UPDF 2nd Division spokesperson, Maj Ronald Kakurungu, said at about 5am on Wednesday morning, ADF rebels attacked Kamango in Butalinga and exchanged fire with the Congolese government troops, but the ADF were repulsed.

Kabarole/Bundibugyo- As the rest of the world celebrated Christmas, hundreds of Congolese nationals fled into Uganda following renewed fighting between DR Congo government troops and insurgents in the eastern part of the country.

Military sources at the Uganda-DRC border said more than 500 Congolese refugeescrossed to Bundibugyo District through Busunga border, allegedly fleeing from Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel attacks on Kamango Town.

The UPDF 2nd Division spokesperson, Maj Ronald Kakurungu, said at about 5am on Wednesday morning, ADF rebels attacked Kamango in Butalinga and exchanged fire with the Congolese government troops, but the ADF were repulsed.

“This led many Congolese refuges to cross to Uganda through Busunga where they are currently being camped awaiting UNHCR [United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] and the Office of the Prime Minister to relocate them to Bubukwanga Transit Centre,” Maj Kakurungu said.

He said the refugees are being screened to prevent ADF rebels from taking advantage to sneak into Uganda. Mr Anwar Morfhed, the in-charge of UNHCR Mbarara office, said byWednesday night, UNHCR and officials from the OPM had started shifting them to Bubukwanga Transit Centre.
Security operatives on the Uganda-DRC border expect the number of the Congolese fleeing into Uganda to increase as fighting rages on.

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