The Ugandan military said it has arrested 43 former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebel group M23 fighters over illegal entry into the country with arms.

Maj. Henry Obbo, Uganda's deputy military spokesperson, told Xinhua Tuesday that the fighters were intercepted over the weekend in the western district of Kasese while attempting to cross into Uganda with guns.

"Our forces intercepted a group of the M23 group who were entering into Uganda illegally with guns and arms," said Obbo.

"They are currently being detained in Mbarara. They are supposed to be charged with illegal entry into Uganda with arms," he said.

Uganda People's Defence Forces on Jan. 18 arrested 101 former M23 fighters when they tried to escape back to their country under unclear circumstances.

The fighters who fled to western Uganda in November 2013 after being defeated by the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade in the eastern Kivu province had been camped at Bihanga military training school in Ibanda district in Uganda.

The M23 rebellion also forced thousands of Congolese refugees to flee into western Uganda.

Source: Xinhua