The UPDF doesn’t tolerate criminals
Nov 16, 2004
I wish to comment on your article “UPDF cited in rape†published on November 10
I wish to comment on your article “UPDF cited in rape†published on November 10.
In the article, Mr Francis Ogwal of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) alleges that the UPDF is involved in rape of women in the IDP camps. It is unfair to make such allegations without an iota of evidence against any specific UPDF officer or combatants involved in such a crime.
Throughout our history as the National resistance Army (NRA) and now Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), the punishment of crimes like murder, defilement, rape or aggravated robbery was death by firing squad.
In August 2002, two soldiers were arrested, charged, tried, convicted and sentenced to death by firing squad because they were found guilty of robbing and killing Fr O’toole in Karamoja. Another three soldiers were arrested in March 2003 in Kitgum, Namukora for having shot and killed a woman.
One of them was freed by the Field Court Martial while his two colleagues were sentenced to death by firing squad. In 2004 Captain Kavuma and Second Lt Musiitwa were arrested and charged with negligence of duty because they went away to drink alcohol and the LRA attacked an IDP camp at Lira Palwo, which the two officers were supposed to protect.
The long and good service record of Kavuma, stretching from the early 1980s, was wiped out when he was tried by the Field Court Martial, sentenced to 10 years in jail and dismissed from the army with disgrace!
Ogwal therefore, as a member of a legally established government body would have done better to bring out investigated cases, or at least cases reported authentically to the UHRC or the UPDF or police or local councils rather than peddle hearsay and rumours whose source and intentions are dubious.
Is Ogwal one of those who have been making relentless efforts to equate the LRA with UPDF in the northern conflict, in order to either uplift the rebels’ moral standing or drag the UPDF in the mud?
It is important to note that there is no report of any victims or by their relatives, or by any other authority that the UPDF leadership refused, ignored or failed to take action, and promptly too.
What we are aware of is that in most cases of what we have heard about is that some soldiers co-habit with some women, even for years. But before the
supposed son-in-law is officially introduced to her parents and pay kasulube (a kind of fine imposed on those who don’t go through official channels of customary marriage) the girl’s parents or relatives treat the male partner as a kind of rapist because his conjugal rights are not based on the recognised customary practices.
I learnt of this when I was UPDF spokesman in Gulu, and so have my successors.
But whenever the male co-habitants promptly pay kasulube, you never hear of such allegations and claims! This is not limited to soldier co-habitants, but even the civilians, whether in or outside the IDPCs.
Ogwal therefore, if in case he is not aware of this situation, or for some reason did not find time and resources enough to delve into this social phenomenon, many of our other African communities should do some homework.
He will find out that in some communities, they even cause ‘illegal’ co-habitants to pay bride price for dead partners when death occurs before such ceremonies have been done! That is when, Ogwal will have achieved what he was employed to do for the good of Uganda and the UPDF.
The writer is the
Defence/ UPDF spokesman
In the article, Mr Francis Ogwal of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) alleges that the UPDF is involved in rape of women in the IDP camps. It is unfair to make such allegations without an iota of evidence against any specific UPDF officer or combatants involved in such a crime.
Throughout our history as the National resistance Army (NRA) and now Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), the punishment of crimes like murder, defilement, rape or aggravated robbery was death by firing squad.
In August 2002, two soldiers were arrested, charged, tried, convicted and sentenced to death by firing squad because they were found guilty of robbing and killing Fr O’toole in Karamoja. Another three soldiers were arrested in March 2003 in Kitgum, Namukora for having shot and killed a woman.
One of them was freed by the Field Court Martial while his two colleagues were sentenced to death by firing squad. In 2004 Captain Kavuma and Second Lt Musiitwa were arrested and charged with negligence of duty because they went away to drink alcohol and the LRA attacked an IDP camp at Lira Palwo, which the two officers were supposed to protect.
The long and good service record of Kavuma, stretching from the early 1980s, was wiped out when he was tried by the Field Court Martial, sentenced to 10 years in jail and dismissed from the army with disgrace!
Ogwal therefore, as a member of a legally established government body would have done better to bring out investigated cases, or at least cases reported authentically to the UHRC or the UPDF or police or local councils rather than peddle hearsay and rumours whose source and intentions are dubious.
Is Ogwal one of those who have been making relentless efforts to equate the LRA with UPDF in the northern conflict, in order to either uplift the rebels’ moral standing or drag the UPDF in the mud?
It is important to note that there is no report of any victims or by their relatives, or by any other authority that the UPDF leadership refused, ignored or failed to take action, and promptly too.
What we are aware of is that in most cases of what we have heard about is that some soldiers co-habit with some women, even for years. But before the
supposed son-in-law is officially introduced to her parents and pay kasulube (a kind of fine imposed on those who don’t go through official channels of customary marriage) the girl’s parents or relatives treat the male partner as a kind of rapist because his conjugal rights are not based on the recognised customary practices.
I learnt of this when I was UPDF spokesman in Gulu, and so have my successors.
But whenever the male co-habitants promptly pay kasulube, you never hear of such allegations and claims! This is not limited to soldier co-habitants, but even the civilians, whether in or outside the IDPCs.
Ogwal therefore, if in case he is not aware of this situation, or for some reason did not find time and resources enough to delve into this social phenomenon, many of our other African communities should do some homework.
He will find out that in some communities, they even cause ‘illegal’ co-habitants to pay bride price for dead partners when death occurs before such ceremonies have been done! That is when, Ogwal will have achieved what he was employed to do for the good of Uganda and the UPDF.
The writer is the
Defence/ UPDF spokesman