KAMPALA - The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has arrested a group of 20 Rwandans suspected to have been on their way to Rwandan genocidal militias in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to reliable sources, the group arrested aboard a minibus on Monday, was heading to bases of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an amalgamation of groups that perpetrated the 1994 Rwanda Genocide – ex-FAR and Interahamwe.

According to sources, the UPDF arrested the group at Katete, in Isingiro District near the Uganda-DRC border.

Subsequently, the Ugandan army handed the suspects over to the country’s (Uganda’s) police.

The group was coming from Nakivale refugee camp in western Uganda, which has for long been believed to be a recruitment base for Rwandan negative forces.

However, when contacted for comment, most Ugandan officials talked to said they were unaware of the development.

"I am not aware but I would crosscheck with relevant authorities to find out the truth,” Vicky Cyaka Kyokuhirwa, the area MP, said.The Ugandan minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Musa Echweru, said he was also not aware of the arrests by press time.

This group is believed to be remnants of the renowned Kibaati group, part of which was repatriated three months ago after an agreement between the governments of Uganda and Rwanda.

In August, about 2,600 Rwandan refugees, who were living in the Kibaati zone located in Uganda’s western district of Isingiro, were repatriated home.

However, some of them chose to stay in Uganda.

Most of those who stayed back are believed to be suspects of the 1994 Genocide. Sources say they disguised themselves as Congolese to justify their stay in the camps.
They are also said to have kept close ties with the FDLR.

FDLR is blacklisted as a negative force in the region.
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