Uganda, Feb. 18 -- The Ugandan government has revealed that its army beat off an attempt by the M23 to destroy its road equipment in the restive eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

This comes as territory incursions by the rebel group threaten to suck Uganda into a tinderbox that looks menacingly close to pitting the DRC against neighbours Rwanda.

"They attempted to attack our road equipment en route to Bunagana Road," Brig Felix Kulayigye, Uganda's army and Defence ministry spokesperson, said of the M23, adding, "We beat them off, the people we are alleged to be supporting."

Accusations of M23 getting support from Kigali and Kampala have previously triggered protests from locals in the DRC. Brig Kulayigye's revelation in r...