Aronda warns army officers

Dec 18, 2005

THE Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, has assured the nation of peace during the election period.

THE Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, has assured the nation of peace during the election period, reports Henry Mukasa.

Aronda said the country will not degenerate into chaos during or after next year’s elections.

Speaking at the launch of the “Code of Conduct for security personnel during an electoral process” at Hotel Africana in Kampala yesterday, Aronda also warned soldiers against bias.
He said while the army “has no business in the electoral process”, it would not hesitate to reinforce the Police when stability is threatened.

“Our country cannot degenerate into chaos at all. Whoever will convince the people, will take the votes. No one will have the excuse that elections were not held because there was anarchy. There cannot be anarchy. We shall have peace and nothing short of that,” Aronda vowed.

The commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, the Commissioner of Prisons, Dr Johnson Byabashaija and heads of security and intelligence forces listened attentively.

“If the IGP needs us (army) anywhere in the country, the UPDF would be on tandby with the necessary numbers, capacity and mobility to ensure that elections are not disrupted,” he said.

Quoting the UPDF Act, Aronda said unlike under the Movement that was all-inclusive, army officers were prohibited from taking sides in a multiparty political dispensation.

“A serving officer must have no party card in his pocket, no party colours, no campaign portraits of candidates, no T-shirts or baseball caps. Just your uniform and gun. If an officer is found distributing political party calendars, I will pull out the UPDF Act,” he warned.

“We are so determined and overwhelmingly focused to put this code of conduct in practice. We, in the UPDF uniform, have no business in this exercise. Our exercise is known. We still have remnants of LRA (rebels in the north). That will be our work,” he added.

He warned the Karimojong warriors and told the forces in the west to be alert, saying the Allied Democratic Forces rebels were about 30km from the Uganda border.

He said worries nursed by some people reminded him of the year 2000 when many spent the new year’s eve drinking, thinking the world was ending.

“I have seen in the press people complaining about Police importing lethal power. If there is no trouble, that lethal capacity will remain in the stores,” Aronda said.

The EC commissioner for eastern region, Joseph Biribonwa, said the code would boost confidence in the electoral process.

“You should be seen to enforce it to disprove the doubting Thomases. Publicise, translate and create a forum for it to be internalised. If it’s going to be kept in Kampala, with elections within two months (February 23, 2006), it will not serve its purpose,” he said.
Kayihura said while the UPDF will remain loyal to the Commander-in-Chief, the loyalty will go as long as it is in line with duty.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (EC) will today brief candidates on the electoral process and also receive their campaign programmes.

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