Tolit Refutes Besigye Claims Museveni

Feb 23, 2001

COLONEL Fred Tolit, the assistant army chief of staff, has denied claims by the Elect Col. Kizza Besigye Task Force that he has been campaigning for candidate Yoweri Museveni, reports Emmy Allio.

COLONEL Fred Tolit, the assistant army chief of staff, has denied claims by the Elect Col. Kizza Besigye Task Force that he has been campaigning for candidate Yoweri Museveni, reports Emmy Allio. "As an assistant chief of staff, I am free to go to any part of the country anytime to speak to the soldiers or civilians. But I have not been campaigning for Museveni," Tolit told The New Vision. Besigye's task force was Recently quoted as saying that Tolit was one of the several army officers campaigning for Museveni and that officers siding with Besigye were being victimised by the army leadership. "Just like the acting Chief of Staff, Brig. James Kazini, who is monitoring the western border against ADF rebels, I am in Kitgum, Pader and Kotido districts to see whether Joseph Kony rebel forces are there," Tolit said. He said he was explaining to the population the disarmament exercise. Over 4,000 soldiers have been deployed in the Karamoja region to disarm the warriors there. "The problem is the population does not understand that the exercise means simply taking away guns. They think it involves denying the Karimojong the right to graze their cattle," Tolit said. He said, "We are telling people that unless there is violence, the Karimojong must be allowed to graze livestock in neighbouring districts." Ends

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