The Ugandan army has dismissed reports of recruitment of people in rebel activities in Buvuma district.

UPDF spokesman, Col. Felix Kulayigye

The army spokesperson, Col. Felix Kulayigye has said reports of rebel recruitment and training in Islands in Nairambi sub-county are untrue and not worth investigating.

“I have said there are no rebels. I cannot follow up what I know does not exist,’ Kulayigye said Monday when called to confirm the reports.

The Buvuma resident district commissioner, Apollo Bwebale said during a community policing exercise at Mala landing site in Nairambi sub-county on Sunday that there is a group of rebels being trained in the islands located in the sub-county.

He said that the intelligence officials were following up the recruits with the view of arresting them.

“According to intelligence, there is a group of people who are being trained as rebels in Nairambi areas. We are investigating the matter and we shall arrest them,” Bwebale said.

But Col. Kulayigye had a different viewpoint.

“I don’t know whether the RDC made the statement out of excitement or not. There are no rebels in the area. Ask the RDC to confirm.”

Meanwhile the announcement of rebel activities in the area by Bwebale had created fears among residents.

Bwebale had attributed the alleged rebel activities in the district to unemployment, drug abuse among the youth.

He declined to disclose the people behind the rebel group but explained that last year a group of youth from Buvuma who were trained as rebels were intercepted in the Democratic Republic of Congo after joining the Allied Democratic Forces.

Richard Mukasa, the officer in-charge of Nairambi police station said there is need for local leaders to resume registering new and old residents in the area.

By Doreen Musingo and Pascal Kwesiga, The New Vision