By Libino Byamukama
apearlnews.com
Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) military experts on Tuesday traveled to Kisoro district in Southwestern Uganda to investigate the allegations of torturing DR Congo refugees. The military experts were from Angola, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan DR Congo, Uganda among other countries.
The EJVM military experts’ visit in Kisoro comes following allegations that some DR Congo refugees were tortured by Ugandan security personnel during recent operation to remove them from Bunagana market and Kibaya land. Last week Ugandan military and police carried an operation of pushing refugees out of borderline after their failure to register and join Nyakabande transit center.
Some asylum seekers agreed to be taken to Nyakabande transit center while others returned to their home country in Rutshuro through Busanza border.
However, allegations emerged that Ugandan military and police officers used excessive force during the operation and injured some refugees.
The EJVM military experts paid courtesy visit to Bunagana town council, Kabaya land, Busanza border and Nyakabande refugee transit center. The military experts declined to speak to media.
However, the Kisoro RDC Hajji Shafiq Ssekandi said that the military experts found the allegation of torturing refugees baseless. He said that the group commended Uganda for a peaceful operation of removing all the refugees who were camping in Kibaya land and Bunagana market.
