Kenya: Uganda on alert
2008-01-03 20:09
Kampala - Uganda's military was on high alert on Thursday as the violent conflict that has rocked neighbouring Kenya has sparked fears of a cross-border spill over.
Uganda has already felt the effect from unrest in Kenya, with oil prices hiked up and shortages across the country. Uganda depends on Kenya's Indian Ocean port for petrol and the violence has halted transport.
"We have put our soldiers on high alert to protect the lives of our people and their properties. We have taken precautionary measures and this includes alerting our soldiers," army spokesperson Paddy Ankunda told a news conference.
The election results that returned Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki to power have been rejected by the opposition and the post-election violence has left over 300 people dead while some 100 000 have been internally displaced.
"There have been no incidents (in Uganda) yet but we are watching the border," Ankunda said.
Hundreds of Kenyans have fled into Uganda, and the minister for disaster preparedness and refugees, Musa Ecweru said although the number of the refugees stands at over 2 000, some 1 400 have been registered in the two main border points of Busia and Malaba.
- SAPA