House Condemns Govt On Katakwi

By Hamis Kaheru and Milton Olupot MEMBERS of Parliament yesterday criticised government for failing to disarm the Karimojong who are terrorising neighbouring districts in the Teso region. The MPs were reacting to a report presented by minister of state for internal affairs Sarah Kiyingi, which said the security situation in Katakwi was under control. Kiyingi over the weekend led a team of five ministers of state and two MPs to Katakwi to assess the situation of people living in camps due to cattle raids by Karimojong. Aggrey Awori (Samia-Bugwe North) led the criticism, saying he did not take government seriously on the issue. He said government should say how much was being spent on relief and other needs in Katakwi compared to other areas in terms of security. He said government was spending sh100,000 per day per Congolese rebel in Kampala while less than sh5,000 was being spent in Katakwi and the neighbouring districts. Awori said seven armoured personnel carriers sent to Karamoja to tackle cattle rustling have no fuel, drivers and no spare parts. Omara Atubo said last year the Sixth Parliament passed a resolution that disarmament be completed within 12 months but the deadline passed without any progress. “Tell us what you have done, not this romantic fluidity that government is committed. It sounds so nice but it does not help,” Atubo said. John Aachila (Jie) criticised Kiyingi’s report for not revealing the number of people dying everyday at the hands of the Karimojong. The report said the Karimojong had turned the guns meant to protect them against external aggression on their neighbours. Aachila wondered whether government would allow Iteso to have guns for protection against Karimojong. He said revelations in the report that 38 army detachments had been deployed in Karamoja mean that government had failed to contain the warriors. Ben Wacha (Oyam North) wanted to know how many guns were given to the Karimojong for self-defence, and the criteria used in giving the guns out. Wacha asked Kiyingi to reveal how many Karimojong had been disarmed by the Government. Ends