The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Contingent serving under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) has safely disposed off 18 pieces of assorted unexploded ordinances.
The exercise happened on Monday, July 31, 2023, in Mabenga, North Kivu in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team under the Field Engineering Unit of UPDF disposed off rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) bombs, main battle tank bombs, anti-tank bombs, 82-millimeter recoilless bombs, bomb fuses, hand grenades, and assorted live ammunition of assault rifle weapons from several plantations, fields, and bushes within the villages of Mabenga.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Mawanda Lubega, the Commanding Officer of the 9th Battalion, ever since the UPDF Contingent occupied the general areas of Mabenga, peace and calmness have been restored and as a result, the civilians have gone back to cultivate their fields though many are faced with a challenge of unexploded ordinances left behind as a result of previous wars.
“We as the UPDF have the obligation of protecting the wanainchi against the dangers of the unexploded ordinances. Some of the bombs were still functional and pose a great danger to human lives and animals if tampered with,” Lubega noted.
The UPDF EOD Field Engineering Commander, Major Julius Aine said that the community heeded their advice about the management of the explosives.
“We strongly advise the community to be vigilant and careful when dealing with unknown materials because the bombs are deadly and can cause death once they explode,” Major Aine said.
Mabenga is 37 kilometers from Rutshuru-Kiwanja town center and is one of the food-producing areas of North Kivu where food and cash crops ranging from maize, soya, beans, cassava, and sorghum are produced to sustain the population of not only Rutshuru territory but North Kivu and beyond.
Farmers from Mabenga lauded the UPDF EACRF Contingent for the efforts towards removing the ordinances. They called upon EACRF and partners to come to their rescue and rid the general areas of North Kivu because their lives depend on agriculture and animal husbandry.
