By Dennis Ojwee

NOBODY will disrupt the security arrangements which have been set up for the 2011 general elections, the information and national guidance minister, Winnie Kabakumba Matsiko, has said.

“We are ready to deal with anyone who will disrupt the coming national campaigns. Nobody should underestimate our zeal for security, otherwise he or she will be arrested and persecuted in court,” she said.

Kabakumba made the remarks on Friday while addressing over 300 students and staff of Gulu University during the launch of the Gulu University Civic Education Students’ Association.

She presented a paper on patriotism and nationalism among the youth. Kabakumba urged the students to practise patriotism since they are the future leaders.

She said the training was meant to promote societal values, interests and a common good which everyone should achieve.

Kabakumba urged the youth to engage in government development programmes as patriotic citizens. However, the members belonging to the patriotic club, in a separate interview with The New Vision, distanced themselves from the launch, saying they were ignored and the symposium was, therefore, not launched.

“The association was launched by the minister. We the members were not part of it,” said Nicholas Ahimbisibwe, flanked by other members after the function.

They said they were a forgotten group used by politicians to complement their campaigns and later dropped when the politicians finally assume their seats.