Residents of Ntoroko District, which borders the DR Congo, have been put on a security alert following the outbreak of fighting between rebels and government troops in the neighbouring country.

The Resident District Commissioner, Ms Feddy Garyahandere told residents on Saturday.

" The fighting, which has led to an influx of Congolese refugees into the district, could be exploited by the Allied Democratic Force rebels to infiltrate Uganda." Ms Garyahandere said.

Ms Garyahandere said: “The rebel group based in Democratic Republic of Congo have started fighting the government forces and some Congolese and Ugandans based in Congo have fled from areas of Kyobwohe in Congo bordering Uganda.” She said some Congolese refugees have settled in Kilyabugongo, Kasenyi and Rwebisengo in Ntoroko District. She called upon local leaders to be security conscious and register the refugees.

Last week at least 200 Congolese refugees, most of them women and children who fled the fighting, crossed the border into Kisoro District. While the refugees who went to Kisoro have been relocated to Nakivale and Oruchinga refugee settlement camps in Isingiro District, those in Ntoroko have not been catered for yet and face a challenge of shelter and food.

The fighting in DR Congo comes after the November 2011 polls in which scores of people were reported killed by gunmen affiliated to political camps. The swearing-in of Joseph Kabila on December 20, 2011, after the disputed presidential poll caused protests in some parts of the DRC. The poll was rejected by opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who claimed that it was rigged.

Source:Daily Nation