Designated security officers in
Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, have resolved to stamp out criminality
along the border between their, and consequently boost business.
In a two-day cross
border meeting held at Hotel Le Tsuba in Arua city, a team comprising 30 from Aru in DRC, and three administrative units in West Nile: Arua City, Arua
District and Maracha, the officials jointly agreed to enhance collaboration
to stop crimes along the border between the two countries. \
The issues discussed included differing tax regimes, armed robberies, and arbitrary arrests
of nationals. Others were; smuggling, motor vehicle thefts, border security
incursions and use of unregistered motor cycles.
The parties agreed to
work together to manage the porous border, and stop providing refuge to wrong elements and rebels.
Salim Komakech, the Resident
City Commissioner of Arua City, stressed that there is an urgent need to fast-track
the end to cross border criminality that is affecting the smooth running of
businesses in both countries, yet business is a an important socioeconomic
transformer.
"Cross border
criminality has negatively impacted on the harmonious working relations of the
two entities,” Kumakech noted.
Lt Col Nathan
Bainomugisha, the 409 Brigade Commander in charge of West Nile region who
represented the 4 Infantry Division Commander, Brig Gen Felix Busizoori, called
on the two parties to be more vigilant and jointly share information on criminals
affecting the people of the two countries.
“What is important
here is to strengthen coordination, collaboration and intelligence sharing to
enable apprehension of criminals for the safety of our two peoples,” Col Bainomugisha
stated.
Meanwhile, Gen Taban
Amin, the deputy director general for special operations in the Internal
Security organization, reflected on the historical neighborliness that existed
in 1960’s and 70’s where people from both countries freely crossed the border.
“We are interlinked
and interconnected," Taban said. "People committing crimes are our children who can be
stopped if we are committed. Let the colonial borders not divide us.”
Col Richard Mbambi,
the Aru Territorial Administrator in DRC, underscored the remarkable roles of
the two Presidents, Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda and Felix
Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo who have tirelessly advocated
for the spirit of Pan Africanism.
“It is through their
relentless efforts of finding local solutions to problems that have
encouraged us to meet regularly,” Col Mbambi said.
In the final
communique signed by both parties, it was resolved that people from the two countries
should be treated with dignity and humanely at the common border, as well as
within the territories during control, search or arrests.
Other resolutions
included prioritizing local solutions to local problems in the management of
cross border security concerns, raising awareness among businessmen about their
safety and that of the businesses, and registration of all rolling stock
(vehicles and motorcycles), in order to facilitate tracking of criminals and
bandits.
In May, the Minister for
the Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda tasked RDCs, RCCs and Intelligence
Officers in the West Nile sub-region to adopt measures to curb cross-border
insecurity in the sub-region.
The caution follows the reported infiltration of
the sub-region by suspected criminals from the neighbouring South Sudan, and
Eastern DRC.
Over the past year, the
West Nile sub-region has witnessed increased incidences of illegal guns
smuggled through at least 360 illegal border points in the sub-region.
The most recent case
involved the arrest of two men who allegedly committed crimes at Odramachaku,
along Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The duo are accused of
killing a Congolese business and, and being in possession of military fatigues,
two magazines and a bullet, and a numberless motorcycle.
