200 UPDF To Patrol Moroto Highway

Apr 01, 2002

An estimated 200 UPDF troops have been deployed along the Moroto-Kotido road to curb insecurity in the area.

By Richard Otim In MorotoAn estimated 200 UPDF troops have been deployed along the Moroto-Kotido road to curb insecurity in the area.The Moroto Resident District Commissioner, John Abingwa, said the soldiers would patrol the road to ensure security of travellers. He said five ambushes had occurred since the disarmament exercise started in December last year. “This shows that the situation is fair unlike in the past when ambushes on the road were a daily ocurrance,” Abingwa said.He said five people had been killed in the different ambushes since the disarmament of Karimojong warriors begun. He said the deployment was prompted by the March 24 murder of an Irish priest, Fr. Michael O’toole Declan and two paris employees.“The situation is not all that good but at least better than before the government launched the disarmament exercise,” Abingwa said. He said adequate manpower on the ground to curb insecurity was still lacking and called on the government to increase the number of troops in Karamoja.He said ambushes on the roads in the region had increased because the Karimojong wanted to acquire more cattle before they are totally disarmed. “Others are taking advantage of those who have been disarmed to terrorise the communities,” Abingwa said.Ends

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