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Uganda Deports 10 FDLR Rebels

The New Times (Kigali)
NEWS
November 16, 2006
Posted to the web November 16, 2006

By Godfrey Ntagungira
Kigali
Over ten women alleged to be members of FDRL were on Tuesday arrested by
Ugandan police in Ntugamo district and handed over to Nyagatare Police Station,
The New Times has learnt.
This was confirmed by the station head, Chief Inspector Damien Gasana, who said
that the suspected rebels were deported through Kagitumba border post.
He said that investigations were still underway to identify the true identity
and origin of the suspects.
However, he said that available information indicates that the suspects crossed
to Uganda from Kibuwa camp in Masisi in the eastern Deomocratic Republic of
Congo (DRC).
The police officer said that during their arrest, the suspects were disguising
as part of the Rwandans that are being expelled from Tanzania. "Their scheme
backfired because they were later arrested and handed over to us by Ugandan
police because of the cordial relations existing between the two countries," he
added.
The leader of the group identified as Anne Marie Muringa, said that she hails
from Nyakinama in the former Ruhengeri province, now in the Northern province.
Other members identified themselves as Pefanis Akimanizanye, Valentine
Uwimanizanye, Severna Urayeneza, Julian Uzabakiriho and Esperance
Nyiranvuyekule. Others include Jeannette Mukeshimana, Rolanse Ntakirutinka and
several kids. The children looked weak and sickly.
The suspected rebels said they identified themselves as Rwandans from Tanzania
as a way of helping them to access relief assistance given to the returnees.
"We identified ourselves as Tanzania returnees in order to benefit from the
donations given to those people. However, our dreams evaporated when Ntugamo
Police (Uganda) intercepted us and handed us to Rwandans," said Murira.
She said that they started their journey from Kibuwa camp two weeks ago.
Asked where their husbands are, Muringa said they had left them in the DR Congo
and that they were members of the FDLR rebels.
However, she denied that the group had connection with the rebels, most of
whose members are accused of executing the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, which claimed
at least a million lives.
Muringa also said that many people in Kibuwa refugee camp possess arms.


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