UPDF leaves CAR as AU, citizens express concern

May 23, 2017

Uganda put its boots on the ground in CAR in 2009 after reports that Kony and his rebel group had taken of villages

UPDF Chief of Defence Forces, David Muhoozi, flanked by UPDF spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire delivers his remarks while in Central African Republic. Photo by Hamuza Nganwa

A wave of uncertainty continued to sweep across the village of Obo in Central African Republic (CAR) as the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) held its last ceremony in the war-torn country.

To some civilians in Obo, without UPDF, the future remains uncertain. Simeon Mbolinjbajbe, a headmaster of one of the secondary schools in Obo town, told journalists that the departure of UPDF could provide leeway for Kony-led rebels to regroup.

"When the UPDF are leaving, the people of Obo think they are abandoning them for any eventual attack because for us their presence means security. We are worrying about what will come after them," Mbolinjbaje said.

Mbolinjbaje was one of the many CAR citizens who attended the hand-over ceremony in Obo as the UPDF bid farewell to a mission to neutralise Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Movement (LRA), was forced out of Uganda in 2006, but found haven in the jungles of of CAR, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and parts of South Sudan.

The Uganda team at the event was led by Col. Okello Engola, the State minister for defence. The Chief of Defecne forces, Gen. David Muhoozi, and Mityana district woman MP, Judith Nabakoba, who is also the chairperson of the parliamentary defence and internal affairs committee, were the other people in the delegation that graced the UPDF sendoff ceremony in CAR last Friday.

inister of tate for efence ol ngola kello  inspecting a guard of honour at the ceremony to mark  operations in bo  camp hoto by amuza ganwaMinister of State for Defence, Col. Engola Okello (L) inspecting a guard of honour at the ceremony to mark UPDF operations in Obo UN camp. Photo by Hamuza Nganwa

 

ome of the  forces at the ceremony in bo hoto by amuza ganwaSome of the US forces at the ceremony in Obo. Photo by Hamuza Nganwa

At the event, Gen. Muhoozi said, despite Uganda's withdraw of troops from the Central African Republic (CAR), unfinished business to execute in the war-torn country, still exits.

"We are aware that as we leave there is still some unfinished business. Remnants of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), including Joseph Kony, are still alive and we have not done enough in rebuilding the army of CAR," he said.

Muhoozi, said that there is a need to for CAR to build a strong indigenous army to keep CAR stable is the lasting insurance against trouble.

"There are many avenues to help build the capacity of CAR forces," he said, revealing that bilateral agreements between Uganda and CAR are going to be signed to enhance cooperation, especially in the area of training CAR's military.

"To that effect an MOU is to be signed between our ministers including training the military," Muhoozi added, pledging Uganda's support to build the CAR army.

Uganda put its boots on the ground in CAR in 2009 after reports that Kony and his rebel group had taken charge of Obo villages in the western parts of CAR.

In 2010, the US sent over 100 special forces to support UPDF's onslaught against LRA. The offensive against Kony's LRA was in 2012 upgraded to regional cause after the formation of a Regional Task Force (RTF) under African Union.

 

ocals in bo follow the ceremony hoto by amuza ganwaLocals in Obo follow the ceremony. Photo by Hamuza Nganwa

Early this month, the African Union Peace and Security Council meet in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to consider the renewal of the mandate of the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord's Resistance Army (RCI-LRA).

During the meeting, African Union security chiefs expressed concern about UPDF's withdraw from CAR, underscoring that it would heavily cost the fight against LRA.

"In spite of the progress achieved to date, the LRA has not yet been eliminated and still maintains the potential to rejuvenate itself, particularly, if the security vacuum following the withdrawal of the Ugandan People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and the US Special Forces is not urgently filled, and if the current momentum and pressure by the RTF are not sustained," a communique of the AU Peace and Security Council noted.

This is the point Muhoozi stressed, urging AU actors to continue supporting the RTF missions. The CDF also said that Uganda is willing to host the headquarters of RTF so that in future, the continent can have a back-up to neutralise rebel related violence and conflict.

"We have also made our modest contribution to regional security through this mission, however this has not come cheap for we lost men here, shed blood but it was a worthwhile venture," he said.

During the hand-over ceremony in Obo, Brig. Richard Karemire, the UPDF spokesperson, said the main mission of Ugandan troops in CAR was not to catch Kony but to neutralise the LRA.

"Our mission was very specific: to neutralise the LRA," he told journalists, emphasising that the LRA is no longer a threat to Uganda.

With UPDF now out of CAR, the job to hunt Kony, now rests with the Central African forces.

Lt. Hubert Zinja, the spokesman for Central African troops in the town of Obo, told journalists that the country's forces were up to the job.

"We are ready with what we have. We have the capacity to fight rebels," Zinja said.

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