UPDF Soldiers Arrested for Helping Smugglers

Two Uganda Peoples Defence Forces soldiers were on Monday arrested for aiding Congolese nationals to illegally enter Uganda.

These were arrested by a joint security team led by the Kisoro RDC Capt. Peter Mugisha and Lt. Col Nelson Bataringaya the 35^th battalion Commander.

The arrest followed an alarm raised by locals in Kisoro about Congolese nationals that were freely entering the country.

The Congolese were reportedly smuggling in cheap alcohol (Waragi) by bribing the soldiers manning the closed border.

The UPDF soldiers are said to have been charging Shs 3000 from each 20-litre jerry-can.

The Kisoro RDC Capt. Mugisha when contacted, declined to reveal the identities of the arrested soldiers.

These, he said were being detained at the 35^th Battalion barracks in Nyakabande as they wait to be arraigned before the Court Martial.

“We are not going to tolerate indiscipline in the armed forces. Kisoro is a high risk district bordering the DRC and Rwanda which have many cases of Covid19,” he said.