Karamoja MPs want disarmament halted
Nov 09, 2006
KARAMOJA MPs want the Government to halt the forceful disarmament exercise and review its approach.
By Mariam Nalunkuuma
KARAMOJA MPs want the Government to halt the forceful disarmament exercise and review its approach.
Addressing journalists at Parliament yesterday, the Karamoja Parliamentary Group chairman, Samuel Abura (Matheniko) said, “Everyone in Karamoja agrees that the guns must go, but what the UPDF is conducting now is no longer disarmament, but purely a military operation.â€
He said, “We are in favour of disarmament, but the exercise has been derailed leading to innocent children, youth, women and aged falling victims of the operation.â€
Abura said since the Lopuya incident in which Karimojong warriors killed 16 UPDF soldiers including Maj. Kham Rwashande, many people have been killed.
“We have reports that not less than 74 Karimojong were killed and 25 manyattas (villages) were burnt down by the army,†Abura said.
He said the soldiers had abandoned the participatory approach and mobilisation of the communities to voluntarily hand over guns.
“We need disarmament with a human face as specified in the Karamoja Integrated Disarmament Development Programme. We do not rule out use of force, but it should be used in isolated cases,†said Simon Lokodo (Dodoth).
KARAMOJA MPs want the Government to halt the forceful disarmament exercise and review its approach.
Addressing journalists at Parliament yesterday, the Karamoja Parliamentary Group chairman, Samuel Abura (Matheniko) said, “Everyone in Karamoja agrees that the guns must go, but what the UPDF is conducting now is no longer disarmament, but purely a military operation.â€
He said, “We are in favour of disarmament, but the exercise has been derailed leading to innocent children, youth, women and aged falling victims of the operation.â€
Abura said since the Lopuya incident in which Karimojong warriors killed 16 UPDF soldiers including Maj. Kham Rwashande, many people have been killed.
“We have reports that not less than 74 Karimojong were killed and 25 manyattas (villages) were burnt down by the army,†Abura said.
He said the soldiers had abandoned the participatory approach and mobilisation of the communities to voluntarily hand over guns.
“We need disarmament with a human face as specified in the Karamoja Integrated Disarmament Development Programme. We do not rule out use of force, but it should be used in isolated cases,†said Simon Lokodo (Dodoth).