Uganda may have used antipersonnel mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo particularly in Kisangani contrary to the Mine Ban Treaty, a global report on landmines issued last month has said.

According to the Landmine Monitor (LM) report there is a "strong possibility of use" by the Ugandan forces. Aid workers in Kisangani and a United Nations assessment team confirmed the presence of many mines to LM.

The UN team concluded that mines were placed in strategic locations to prevent troop movements, and that since the ceasefire these mines had the effect of obstructing displaced persons' return home.

The UN even received reports that some mines were laid after the ceasefire.

Separately, the LM report cites four sources, including three from the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) who report that production of antipersonnel mines continues at the government-owned National Enterprise Corporation factory in Nakasongora.

LM has not been able to visit the factory. "Ugandan officials have given us different stories about the state of the factory and what goes on there," Stephen D. Goose, chief editor of the Landmine Monitor, told The Monitor.

"Uganda should give a more definitive statement about its policy and open [the factory] up for international inspection."

Ugandan officials have denied the charges of mine use in Kisangani and further mine production.

The army commander Maj. Gen Jeje Odongo told The Monitor yesterday that there has been so much distortion of the facts surrounding the matter.

"I am surprised that this has persisted. Just last week a team of three UPDF officers returned from Nicaragua where they had gone to explain the issues. These were Col. Fred Tolit, Lt. Col. Kyamulesire and Capt. Kagoro."

Odongo said that at the time the UPDF was in Kisangani, they were located around Bangoka Airport and Lafayatte.

"The RPA was deployed around it while the rebel group RCD operated from within the area. It was a secured territory and therefore stupid to reinforce the defences."

He insisted that UPDF ceased production of mines about five years ago.

"I am a board member of Luwero Industries and have access to privileged information. There is no manufacture whatsoever. In 1998 I physically toured the particular sector of the industry and found it disused," he said.

But in May, at the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT) intersessional meetings in Geneva, Ugandan representative Captain Asingura said very few in the UPDF were aware of Uganda's obligations under the MBT.

Uganda has never filed the annual transparency report required by the MBT. Uganda signed the MBT in December 1997 and ratified it February 1999. The treaty entered into force for Uganda 1 August 1999, almost a year before the fighting between Uganda and Rwanda at Kisangani.

At the third meeting of states parties to MBT, in Managua, Nicaragua, last month, the finding about possible UPDF use of landmines in the DRC "drew a lot of attention," Goose said. "Many state parties spoke of the need to deal with this serious allegation in a responsible manner." The final Managua Declaration, authorized September 20, contained strong language condemning any signatory country that is violating the treaty.

The 2001 LM report also raises "serious, but unconfirmed allegations" about Rwanda using antipersonnel mines in the DRC last June.

Rwanda was a signatory to the treaty at the time, and it is now a state party. "Our evidence is stronger on Ugandan use," said Goose, "but we would not be surprised if both sides used mines." The allegations against the UPDF are also obscured by Uganda's close military cooperation with rebel groups in the DRC that do use antipersonnel mines.