On Thursday, Lieutenant Colonel Willy Ngoma, the M23 rebels’ military spokesperson released a statement claiming the capture of Ngungu town and neighboring positions of Mululu,Runigi and Kenyenzuki in Kibabi groupement from FARDC soldiers and coalition.
Captain Kato says that the claims are just mere propaganda and fallacy aimed at soiling the image of Ugandan troops so that it derail and divert the attention of its process of withdrawal from the mission as directed by the mandate.
On Tuesday, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the militia coalition deployed a Su-Khoi 25 fighter jet and heavy artillery to conduct air raids on M23 positions in Kibumba, Nyiragongo territory. This resulted in the loss of Private Second Class John Ndawo, a peacekeeping troop attached to the Kenyan contingent, whose body was repatriated to Kenya for a dignified burial on Wednesday evening.
On Friday, Jules Mulumba, spokesperson of the Wazalendo released a statement claiming that the coalition has conquered villages of Nturo, Nyamitaba, Rusinga, Pett, Maisis, Kilorirwe, Busumba, Kirumbu, Rugogwe, Kibarizo, Cafeteria, Kisangani, Kilumbo, Kalengera, Gatunda, Rugararaga, Kwa Gahimanyi, Rukumbo, Mihanga, Rusebeshe, Brazza and Kitchanga.
Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja says that the government of Uganda is not training any rebel groups in any part of the country and outside.
She pledged that the Minister of Defence, Vincent Ssempijja would present a statement to parliament in regard to the matter.
On May 23, Elias Mbishinzimana aged 23, a resident of Gatwe village, Bunagana ward, Bunagana town council in Kisoro district was hit by a bullet in the arm while on the Ugandan side as the fighting went on on the nearby hill of Murujinga.
The rebel Spokesperson, Major Willy Ngoma, said in a statement released both in French and Swahili that civilians are now free to cross back to their areas because M23 has the capacity and strength to protect them since they have repulsed the government troops forcing them to retreat to distant areas.
The Civilians carrying a coffin bearing an effigy of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and others carrying placards with President Yoweri Museveni's picture encircled with an X attempted to cross to Rwanda through the border of Rubavu while pelting stones at Rwandan police officers.
The gunfire exchange went on until around 1:00 PM when the government troops and the militia fighters retreated and M23 started advancing towards Rutshuru town. The heavy gunfire shook residents and Congolese refugees in the Bunagana town council.
Addressing the media on the Congolese side of Bunagana on Tuesday afternoon, the M23 Spokesperson, Major Willy Ngoma accused the government of failing to fulfill what was agreed in Nairobi in 2013.
The rebels conquered Bunagana Border in Rutshuru territory in North Kivu province on Monday after overpowering DRC government security forces in the area. The security team which comprised 137 members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and 37 police officers retracted from the frontline and fled to Uganda.
In his statement issued Monday, General Sylvain Ekenge Bomusa Efomi, the Spokesman for the North Kivu governor, says that the rebels shot Mwisa dead on Sunday evening in Musaga along Bunagana-Rutshuru road, less than 5 kilometers to Uganda-DR Congo border of Bunagana.
Ismail Ndayambaje, the Bunagana town council LC3 chairman says that on Sunday morning more than 4,000 refugees have crossed into Bunagana. He admits that the refugees are suffering extremely due to the complete lack of water in the town council since since the crisis started on Saturday.
Humanitarian aid agencies at the transit center, say that the huge influx of refugees has led to a shortage of accommodation shelter. Hillary Adomat, a Shelter Technical Officer for the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) which supports orphaned and vulnerable children in Central and Western Uganda, says that limited shelter has resulted in congestion during the time of sleeping.
Baraka Muneza, a Congolese refugee says that when they heard heavy gun shelling, they feared and fled to the Ugandan side of Bunagana. Muneza says that their interest is not to proceed to Nyakabande transit camp but to see their cradle land peaceful so that they cross back.
Ssekandi says that they are stuck because of the renewed fighting between M23 rebels and FARDC soldiers on Friday evening in Tchanzu and Runyoni, which pushed hundreds of refugees to flee to Bunagana town council.
On Thursday, 78 Congolese crossed to Bunagana following fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers.
Emily Doe, World Food Program (WFP) Health Officer in Charge of South Western Uganda says that the influx of refugees happened at a time when humanitarian departments were not prepared due to many tasks across the country and outside Uganda.
Heavy fighting broke out around 03:00 am Wednesday after FARDAC soldiers launched an offensive against rebel positions in Bugusa. General Sylvain Ekenge, the Spokesman for the North Kivu governor confirmed the attack against the M23 positions.
