Major General Don William Nabasa, the commander of Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) Third Division, has called upon Karacunas (reformed Karamojong warriors) in the Karamoja sub-region to take advantage of the extension of the amnesty window to surrender all guns in illegal possession. 

Maj. Isaac Oware, the Third Division spokesperson in a statement on Saturday, August 26, said Maj. Gen. Nabasa made the call on August 25 during a community security mobilisation where hundreds of Karacunas and elders turned up at Lorikokwa village, Naitakwae parish, Nandunget sub-county in Moroto district. 

"The amnesty window period had elapsed but we had to request the strategic leadership and the President of the Republic of Uganda for an extension because of the successes registered and the critical need to allow other Karacunas. In his wisdom, the Fountain of Honour granted more two months. I, therefore, urge more Karacunas in hiding to take advantage and surrender," said Nabasa. 

Nabasa who also doubles as the chairman of the regional disarmament committee, elaborated that President Museveni as a lover of peace, initiated and guided senior leaders to employ the mobilisation drives as additional strategies to the disarmament operation which encompasses a voluntary approach and provision of alternative livelihood. 

Nabasa reaffirmed the commitment of the joint security forces to securing Uganda's borders by manning critical vantage points and areas from where the tactical forces can ably spring to deter any cross-border security threats. 

Francis Adome, the Moroto Municipality MP, called upon the Karacunas of South Karamoja to emulate their colleagues in the north and pro-actively continue being involved in communal peace initiatives. 

On his part, Mt Moroto Regional Police Commander, ACP Francis Chemusto, appealed for continued popular vigilance and timely purposeful information sharing among communities and security agencies to fight other emerging crimes like robberies, housebreaking and domestic violence among others. 

As a symbol of the voluntary approach, one Karacuna, Lowal Joseph, a resident of Acholi village, Lorengecora sub-county in Napak district, surrendered a sub-machine gun, number 09990 with 28 live rounds of ammunition. 

The senior leaders said similar mobilisation drives will be rolled out and conducted in other districts of South Karamoja. 

Also present at the meeting were Moroto Deputy Resident District Commissioner Tuko Justin, UPDF brigade commanders, Mercy Corps program manager Robert Lochap, community mobiliser Judith Nakut and senior officers of the joint security forces.