Red Cross Official Hails UPDF On War Situation Regulations

By Kyomuhendo Muhanga BRIG. Gen. H. S. Mtezo, a pool officer of the International Committee of Red Cross, has said the Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDE), was among the forces that have respected the 1949 Geneva agreement on laws and rules of armed conflict. Mtezo was on Saturday instructing over 30 commanders of the UPDF second division at Lake View Regency Hotel, Mbarara. "The ICRC honours UPDF troops for its reputation of keeping and observing the rules in armed conflict as stipulated in the Geneva Convention agreement of 1949," Mtezo said. Uganda is party to the war agreement. He, however, said although the troops had a good record in keeping the humanitarian law in areas of armed conflict, there was a need to keep training the subordinates on the international rules of war. "You must make sure that your subordinates are subjected to regular training to avoid the breach of the law of war," he said. He added, "Even in war situations, there must be credibility. It must not be war of destroying and robbing property." Article 47 of the Geneva Conventions stipulates that reprisals against the wounded, sick and ship-wreckaged persons, the personnel, the vessels or equipment are prohibited. The UPDF director of training, Lt. Col. David Wakaalo, said the directorate of training was committed to training all the combatants on general discipline and the protection of civilians caught in war. President Yoweri Museveni in his 2001 presidential re-election manifesto, said he wanted to professionalise the army to international standards. Ends