K'jong Disarming To End In Eight Months

By Milton Olupot THE Karimojong disarmament will be completed in the next eight months, Col. Sula Semakula, the officer in-charge of the operation, has said. Semakula, the former Kisangani sector commander, will command the 5th, 7th and 3rd battalions trained in Action Rapid Reaction by the United States green berets. The Ateso weekly newspaper, Etop, yesterday quoted Semakula as saying that the operation had already started with the deployment of about 4,000 UPDF troops in Karamoja. The havoc wrecked by the Karimojong warriors especially on neighbouring districts, Soroti and Kumi, had been given political interpretation. President Yoweri Museveni has emphasised that it should be resolved soon. The official disarmament programme expected to be launched in Kotido and Moroto districts on 7th and 8th respectively was postponed. The Minister in-charge of the Presidency, Ruhakana Rugunda, met Karamoja Members of Parliament at Parliament House on Wednesday over the programme. The MPs complained that they had not seen any documents on the exercise. They said the deployment of soldiers in Karamoja was causing fear. The MPs said the disarmament exercise should not be used to violate human rights. The defence ministry permanent secretary, Musoke Gabidande, however, said the UPDF had been deployed to secure the region. Semakula, addressing district leaders and locals in Aketa, Usuk in Katakwi, said he was visiting deployed troops to give last orders before the operation begins. According to Etop, Semakula warned his commanders against conspiring with the Karimojong to sabotage the operation. He said the Karimojong should only be allowed to cross borders to graze their animals after surrendering their guns. The meeting was attended by Katakwi LC5 chairman Stephen Ilemukorit, Soroti Municipality MP Capt. Mike Mukula, and the Gulu RDC, Musa Ecweru. Ends