At least 750 of 1,375 ex-M23 combatants, including their leader Sultani Makenga, are missing from Bihanga Military Training School where they were taken for demobilization.
The M23 rebels have been living in the army barracks located in Ibanda District after suffering defeat by the Congolese and UN troops in 2013.
Sources say there is a rift within M23 and one large group has gone to DR Congo.
Military spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire, said that Sultani Makenga who has been under watch disappeared last month to unknown location with a number of fighters.
“Makenga disappeared. We don’t know his whereabouts. We can’t be in position to trace and hunt for him. He has not been under arrest or prison,” said Karemire.
The confirmation of Makenga’s disappearance comes about three weeks after the authorities in DR Congo accused neigbouring Uganda for letting free hundreds of former combatants.
A few weeks ago, police arrested several ex-M23 combatants in Kisoro and Mbarara on their way to Democratic Republic of Congo. In Kisoro, a group of the suspected ex-M23 combatants were arrested together with guns, ammunition and other weapons.
