Minister Confirms Kasese Recruitment

THE state minister for defence, Ruth Nankabirwa, yesterday said there is fresh rebel recruitment in Kasese district. “I have contacted many people and got reports which confirm this,” she said at the Kasese Catholic Social Services hall in Kasese town. John Thawite reports that Nankabirwa, who was flanked by Kasese woman MP and current chairperson for the area parliamentary group, Mrs. Loice Bwambale, and Busongora South MP Christopher Kyibanzanga, was addressing district women leaders. “The target would have been Buganda but people there have totally rejected the rebellion after the horrors experienced in Luweero,” Nankabirwa said. She was in the district at the invitation of Mrs. Bwambale over reports that an unknown rebel group had been formed and several people had joined it. She said, “There is something taking place. Therefore you must take care.” Nankabirwa, who had just ended a four-day tour of the district, said what she found in Kasese confirmed her office reports. She cautioned against exaggerating the number of rebel recruits. She added, “There is no smoke without fire. Some people are organising to destabilise Uganda again using Kasese.” Nankabirwa called on people behind the reported new group to tell Ugandans what they want so “that we get into dialogue.” Ends