UN mission chief in DR of Congo meets with top Ugandan officials

The head of the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) opened his first official visit with top authorities in neighbouring Uganda with an update on the overall Congolese peace process and progress of the new power-sharing government.

During a visit yesterday to Uganda's capital Kampala, William Lacy Swing, head of the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) met with Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya and updated the Ugandan Government on recent developments in the DRC peace process. He also confirmed that the transitional government effectively "took off," saying progress had been noted and that a meeting of armed groups operating in Ituri is scheduled for next Thursday in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa.

Mr. Swing also announced that MONUC troops would be ready to take over from the multinational force due to withdraw from Bunia on 1 September. He thanked Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for the facilities availed to the mission's logistic base in Entebbe in the framework of its operations in Ituri. He also pointed out that his visit in Uganda coincided with the signing of the State of Forces Agreement between Uganda and MONUC, which officially authorizes the opening of a MONUC office in Kampala.