Kiyonga rules out Karamoja coverup

By Milton Olupot
in Kotido

There will be no cover-up on Karamoja, Defence Minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga told the Jie clan leaders and elders in Kotido on Sunday.

“When we learned about complaints of soldiers misbehaving, two investigations were carried out, one within the army structures and one ordered by the Prime Minister’s Office. That tells you that the army and the Government will not cover up and want to take action on the basis of established facts,” Dr. Kiyonga said.

The minister, who was flanked by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, revealed that some accusations were true, others exaggerated and unfounded.

“People have talked about castration. The alleged victim was brought before the investigation committee but when asked if he had been castrated, he replied: ‘Do you want me to show you that I am still strong?’ On the other hand, we have heard stories of torture, sexual harassment and disrespect of elders and women. Action is being taken on the facts found to be true.”

Dr. Kiyonga, however, noted that mistakes had also been made within the community. Referring to the October 29 incident in Lopuyo, in which 20 UPDF soldiers and 48 civilians and warriors were killed, he said: “Soldiers were not only shot at from within the manyatas but also from outside. While all of us regret the bad thing that happened, we should also condemn the Karachunas (Karimojong youth) who went to that party with guns and those who formed an outer ring to shoot at the soldiers.”

The Defence Minister said he was concerned about two new developments in Karamoja: the fact that the warriors now had arms capable of shooting at aircrafts, and that they were moving in big numbers – between 500 and 800 men.

“At the centre of this conflict is the long-standing problem of inter-tribal raids, complicated by illegal armament,” Dr. Kiyonga stressed. “All the Karimojong leaders I have met, told me they know where the guns and the gun markets are. What is remaining is the will to remove those guns. And while removing them, mistakes must be avoided.”

Nyakairima confirmed that action would be taken against soldiers who misbehaved. “We have one army under one law, which applies to all, from the lowest to the highest. We shot a Private for killing a white priest. We even have some Generals who are before the court. We don’t have a culture of cover-up.”

He urged the local leaders to collect information about alleged abuses and pass it on. “We will look into each and everyone of those allegations. Any soldier found guilty will be tried in an open court. But we shall not accept for anyone to politicise or criminalise the disarmament exercise. This is a national problem. Ugandans have died in road ambushes. Other districts have been affected. The government has an overwhelming political will to end this problem and secure the area.”

Gen. Aronda said he was pleased that the leaders agreed to convince their youth to hand in the guns but insisted on a timetable. ‘I am happy about the message of taking away the guns but I have not heard when. We shall continue to discuss the method. If the guns are brought in voluntarily, there will be no need for forceful disarmament, no need to bring in helicopters.”

He also vowed that the source of the arms would be dealt with. “The routes are known. We are going to take it up with the governments of Southern Sudan and Kenya. But we have also learned about alliances. Instead of reporting people who are bringing in guns, some of you ally with them against your own people. Let us get the information (on arms flows) and close those arms markets.”

The army chief assured the Jie leaders that the UPDF would provide them with security. “The government and neighbours have agreed that you can cross borders to look for pastures and water but you will no longer choose where to pass. We will protect you wherever you want to go as long as you dialogue with the other side,” he said.

During the meeting, which was meant to restore relations between the Karimojong and the army, elders had complained about undisciplined and corrupt soldiers, while continuing to pledge support for the disarmament exercise.

“We request the Government to carry on with disarmament,” the Reverend James Nasak said. “The source of all these problems is the gun. The inter-clan raids among Karimojong must stop. The guns must go. But as we reinforce disarmament, let us also reinforce law and order.”

Detailed report on UPDF, Karimojong clashes tomorrow