UN agencies set terms on disarmament

Oct 11, 2006

UN agencies will not support the Karamoja disarmament and development plan unless human rights violations in the exercise are addressed.

By Harriette Onyalla

UN agencies will not support the Karamoja disarmament and development plan unless human rights violations in the exercise are addressed.

UNICEF country representative Martin mogwanja said, “disarmament depends on accelerated, sustained and participatory development in karamoja.

“Our support for the Karamoja integrated disarmament and development programme (KIDDP) will depend on the joint implementation of voluntary disarmament and development programmes,” he said on Tuesday during consultations by UNICEF regional director for East and Southern Africa, Per Engebek with Moroto district leaders in Moroto.

However, state minister for Karamoja affairs Aston Kajara said the development of karamoja should not be hinged on the disarmament process.

mogwanja said the government should show commitment to the programme by sticking to the KIDDP plan which empathises voluntary disarmament.

He asked the government to provide security for the people during and after disarmament.

Mogwanja said the KIDDP is a big step forward but government’s commitment must be backed by specific resource allocation, including human and financial resources.

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