KAMPALA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military on Monday said it has beefed up security on a common border lake with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a recent spate of attacks and abductions, a spokesperson said.
Capt. Stephen Tumwesigye, spokesperson of the army's second division based in the western district of Mbarara, told Xinhua by telephone that Uganda People's Defense Forces' marine team is now patrolling Lake Edward to ensure its security.
"It's our duty to ensure the lake is safe from any threats," Tumwesigye said.
"We are on the ground and in charge. There is no tension on the lake. The business is going on normally on either side of the border. People are busy going on with their day-to-day work," he said.
On July 5, at least one Ugandan soldier was killed and another seriously injured after unknown gunmen hurled a grenade at troops who were on routine patrol off Rwenshama fishing village on Lake Edward.
The attack came barely two months after a group of six Ugandan fishermen were captured by suspected Congolese Mai-Mai militia at the same border lake.
In response, Ugandan security agencies arrested 26 Congolese fishermen suspected of being allies of the militia group that captured the fishermen.
The fishermen have since been released.
