Ugandan police have declared that a shadowy network, which was allegedly
recruiting unemployed Ugandan youth into rebel groups in neighbouring
Democratic Republic of Congo, has been identified.
One of the suspects was arrested by police as he allegedly ferried 12
unemployed Ugandan youths across the Bunagana border post, a frontier
between Uganda and the DRC.
The recruits were reportedly promised high paying jobs, yet they were being forced to join rebel movements.
Uganda
police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba told a press conference in
Kampala that suspected rebel traffickers in the capital lured the youths
by promising them lucrative jobs before sending them to camps of
no-return in DRC to be trained as rebel fighters.
"We rescued 12 men who were being trafficked to Democratic Republic of Congo," she said.
"They
told us that each was promised $3,000 per month but on crossing the
border, their mobile phones were confiscated and were told that they
were to walk to a camp."
The vast DRC has become a hub for rebels fighting government's within the Great Lakes region.
Nabakooba also said that reliable intelligence reports led to the arrest of the recruiter by Ugandan security forces.
Reports from some districts in Uganda indicate that many youths have ended up in rebels camps.
One
district in particular, Kibuku has reported over 300 missing youths.
Other districts including Palisa, Budaka and Mayuge having also reported
missing youths.
Observers say the high rate of unemployment has
left many youths susceptible to trafficking or rebel recruitments.
Unemployment rate among Uganda's youth is more than 35 per cent.
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