Ugandan army engages gunmen near Rwandan border

A Ugandan army patrol exchanged fire on Saturday with unidentified gunmen for several hours on the slopes of Mt. Muhavura, near the border with Rwanda, a Ugandan army spokesman said. "[The] roaming armed group trespassed on our territory," Maj Shaban Bantariza told IRIN on Wednesday. "We hit them and many fled into the DRC." Tensions in the region have risen since Rwandan President Paul Kagame threatened to invade eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to disarm Rwandan militias there, which are seeking to destabilise the Rwandan government. Numerous reports of Rwandan troops having already entered the DRC have yet to be concretely substantiated. Allegations that the group the Ugandan army fought were members of the Rwandan army have also not been confirmed. Bantariza said the Ugandan army was investigating. Government delegations from the three countries are expected to meet this week in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, a senior official in Uganda's foreign ministry, who requested anonymity, told IRIN. They are expected to set up a tripartite mechanism to monitor border security and resolve disputes.