KASESE – The UPDF has arrested a 75-year-old man with five grenades, machetes and other war documents amid concerns that the militia groups that attacked security forces in 2016 are regrouping.
Eriya Bilhwana was arrested in Bigando on Friday in an operation led by Col Keith Katungi, the commander of the 309th Brigade, and the RDC, Col (Rtd) James Mwesigye.
According to Col Mwesigye, Bilhwana was the commander of Kirumira Mutima, a militia group that attacked police posts in 2016, hacked officers to death and grabbed guns. He added that the suspect got the weapons from the neighbouring DR Congo where some members of the militia, who survived arrest, fled and are busy recruiting.
The RDC added that the suspect was taking the weapons to a senior minister of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, whom he didn’t name.
Col Katungi said the suspect was found with documents detailing their planned attacks in the area, mainly army and police posts.
Col Mwesigye said since the 2016 attacks and the raid on the Rwenzururu Kingdom palace that left over 100 dead, mostly royal guards, some remnants of the group have been regrouping to cause havoc in the area.
He explained that the grenade that was discovered dumped in Mawa Market, Kasese Town, on June 7 was the work of the same group.
Since April, five bombs have been discovered in border areas of the district, especially in Kyondo Sub county.
