Re-arming Karimojong will destabilise the region

Nov 26, 2009

While addressing people in Kalita, Nakapiripirit district, on November 13, Col (rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye, promised to give guns to the people in that district. This pronouncement aims to reverse the achievements so far registered by the disarmament programm

By Felix Kulayigye

While addressing people in Kalita, Nakapiripirit district, on November 13, Col (rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye, promised to give guns to the people in that district. This pronouncement aims to reverse the achievements so far registered by the disarmament programme.

According to him, he would use the moribund method of community-based security to ‘protect the people from external raids’.

He also claimed that the programme was not coordinated with our neighbours. In his press conference, he accused the UPDF of violating human rights.

The UPDF respects national leaders, but we cannot keep quiet on matters that threaten the security of our people, neither shall we allow anyone to drag us into the mud for pursuit of personal political interests.

It should be recalled that the 6th Parliament passed a resolution recommending community-based security for Karamoja region which the army implemented religiously. We recruited Local Defence Units (LDUs) from the community under the command of the UPDF and set up disarmament committees which were to monitor the programme.

Records show that raiding exacerbated, as these LDUs deserted, others armed their relatives to go and raid, while others were caught on raiding missions. In fact, we lost an officer who was gunned down by his platoon of LDUs and they all fled with the guns. It was against such setbacks of the policy that we changed and introduced ASTU and the benefits speak volumes.

The current programme has yielded a total of 27,281 guns from 2001 to date. However, while the UPDF has continued to collect guns and stopped external supply of guns, raids within Karamoja have continued.

Known external rustlers like the Toposa, Didinga, Sambura and Pokot have not raided Karamoja for years now. Besides, Uganda entered a joint disarmament agreement with Kenya to disarm the Pokot, who were seen as the biggest threat to Karamoja.

The UPDF decided on a simultaneous disarmament exercise to take care of the fears of one community being disarmed at the expense of the other.

Thus, in view of the foregoing, won’t Besigye’s re-arming of the Karamoja region destabilise Teso, Sebei and Bugisu regions as well as Lango and Acholi regions?

People have been able to resettle in Ngariam where they had been in internally displaced people’s camps for over 30 years and in Kalita area, where people had deserted since 1957.

The Karimojong have not possessed guns for protecting their cattle, instead they have been using the guns to terrorise themselves and the neighbouring communities like Teso, Bugisu, Sebei, Lango, Acholi. No wonder the majority are now appreciative of the disarmament programme.

Nakapiripirit is the only district of Karamoja that feeds itself and it is the same district, together with Abim, that suffered most from raiders in the past. Nakapiripirit has the highest population of goats and sheep in Uganda and Karamoja is home to 19.8% of Uganda’s cattle, thanks to the UPDF’s efforts.

Karamoja is undergoing transformation because of the stabilisation efforts of the army and the tireless efforts of the current minister who has pitched camp in the region.

On human rights, the UPDF is a beacon of hope and a stabilising factor, not only in Karamoja, but in the country and the entire great lakes region. One cannot ignore the fact that the safety and security of people and property is vested in the state, communities and individuals.

Claims of shooting and arresting innocent people are simply intended to tarnish the good image of the army. It is questionable why innocent individuals would run away from a law enforcement exercise.

Equally, what action is expected to be taken towards a person firing at armed soldiers on an operation? The UPDF responds to such acts by cordon-and-search operations. However, these operations are carried out with the involvement of community leaders and the Police.

The culprits cannot be in support of being forcefully disarmed and will do all it takes to discredit the exercise and the UPDF, including deliberately telling lies and unfortunately, Besigye has become their spokesman.

The cordon-and-search exercise has yielded more guns than all the other methods used in the disarmament exercise. The UPDF has used all the means at its disposal to properly screen the innocent from the criminals, immediately after a cordon-and-search operation.

The judiciary has been thin in Karamoja. However, this does not mean the UPDF has acted high-handed in dealing with criminals.

The dividends of disarmament are being enjoyed by the people in Karamoja and the surrounding districts, hitherto terrorised by rustlers.

The writer is the UPDF spokesperson

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