Authorities in the southwestern district of Kisoro have diverted heavy trucks to Rwanda through Cyanika border post.
The heavy vehicles, which were transporting goods from Uganda and Kenya destined for the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma, have been stranded since Thursday last week when the rebels launched an assault on the border towns of Bunagana and Rutshuru. Both towns are still in the hands of the rebels who are said to be advancing towards Goma.
The truck drivers have been waiting for the fighting to subside just as it used to be in the past when the violence would only last for about two days. Alex Mpozembizi, one of the drivers, says that they are surprised to be told that the rebels are instead pushing to control the city of Goma.
He says that he will not divert his journey through Rwanda although they have been advised to do so as he is not sure of making it to Goma through Rwanda.
Another driver who only identified himself as Abdul revealed that the people to whom he was delivering the goods say that the security in the area is not guaranteed. He said that the route through Rwanda is very long and that it will not be good for him to be stranded in Rwanda.
Some of the drivers who decided to use the route through Rwanda say that they were becoming impatient yet they were supposed to deliver the goods to Goma on time. But Moses Asiimwe says that the most important thing is to deliver the goods to Goma irrespective of the challenges he will go through and says that he will not embark on any journey to the war-torn country when it is rumored that rebels are planning more attacks.
Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, Hajji Mustapha Doka, says that they decided to divert the vehicles through Rwanda but it is upon the drivers to take it up.
He, however, says that few drivers were responding to the diversion while others were still hesitant to move.
Hajji Doka says intelligence sources indicate that the rebels are gaining more territory but adds that the situation at the border is calm.
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More than 600 Congolese government soldiers were forced to flee into Uganda after the rebel assault on Bunagana.
The M23 rebels loyal to renegade army officers, General Bosco Ntaganda and Col. Sultani Makenga, picked up arms in April this year to fight the government of President Joseph Kabila. Fighting broke out following the collapse of the March 23, 2009 agreement in which the rebels were supposed to be incorporated into the national army. Ntaganda is wanted for alleged war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Uganda Red Cross Society says more than 16,000 refugees are currently at Nyakabande refugee reception centre in Kisoro district, after they were displaced by the fighting in Congo.
