There is heavy presence of police and Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF personnel in Butogota town council in Kanungu district along with the Uganda- Democratic Republic of Congo border as Congolese nationals stage protests against two Ugandans accused of killing a local chief in their country.
The protests started on Sunday around 11:00 am PM when about 50 Congolese nationals angrily crossed into Uganda in pursuit of Patirisi Baribusa and Mathius Paluku, both residents of Munyaga village in Butogota town council. The duo is accused of killing Tanasia Kamuswa, the Chief of Burambira in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province, in DRC.
Hebert Bahati Kibita, the LC III Chairperson of Butogota Town Council, says the accused sneaked into Congo through the porous border to attend the funeral of their mother-in-law in Burambira village. Kibita says that around 4:00 am, Kamuswa stormed the vigil and ordered the mourners to stop the loud music and noise, saying that they did not request permission from him.
He explained that a scuffle broke out leading to a fight. It is in this process that Baribusa and Paluku assaulted Kamuswa to death. After Kamuswa’s death, the duo fled back to Uganda. This angered the Congolese nationals who mobilized and crossed into Uganda to hunt the duo and avenge Kamuswa’s death.
Bahati says that he and other leaders intervened and tried to calm down the residents in vain until Sunday evening when police and the army intervened and ordered them to return to Congo. Hajji Shafique Ssekandi, the Kanungu Resident District Commissioner confirms the deployment at the border, saying that the Congolese nationals are threatening to cross into Uganda to avenge the death of their leader.
Gad Rugaaju Ahimbisibwe, the Kanungu Deputy Resident District Commissioner has called for calm, saying they will hunt down Baribusa and Paluku to explain themselves against the accusations levelled against them.
