Give up guns, K’jong ordered
Feb 12, 2006
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has asked the Karimojong to hand over their guns, saying the weapons were scaring away investors and development from the Karamoja region.
By Enock Kakande
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has asked the Karimojong to hand over their guns, saying the weapons were scaring away investors and development from the Karamoja region.
“We still have our old devil of a gun,†Museveni said.
He added, “Some of the dams were abandoned because of the insecurity. There is no need for you to scare away development from your area. I am a cattle keeper like you. You can’t scare away a cow when you want to milk it. People fear to develop Karamoja because of the gun.
“These ministers and permanent secretaries don’t come to you because they fear the gun and even the MPs don’t tell you the dangers of the gun. So I request you to peacefully get rid of this gun completely.â€
Museveni was addressing campaign rallies in Kaabong and Abim districts on Saturday.
He said the Karimojong do not have to fear because the UPDF is strong enough to defend them from aggression from gun-wielding tribes in the neighbouring countries. He named some of the tribes attacking the Karimojong as the Pokot, Turkana and the Dinkas.
“The UPDF is now very powerful. We have managed to build it completely professionally unlike in the past when only a third of it was built,†Museveni said. “We have now got well-equipped soldiers experienced on both land and air. There is no more time for law-breakers to joke around with the army and the entire security of the country. So Karamoja will be peaceful and you will not even attack each other,†he said.
He said the UPDF had exhibited its strength to the extent that Kony had fled and would not return to Uganda.
He asked the karimojong to vote for him and NRM MPs on February 23.
He said the NRM had achieved a lot in karamoja, including UPE, constructing hospitals, health centres and boreholes.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has asked the Karimojong to hand over their guns, saying the weapons were scaring away investors and development from the Karamoja region.
“We still have our old devil of a gun,†Museveni said.
He added, “Some of the dams were abandoned because of the insecurity. There is no need for you to scare away development from your area. I am a cattle keeper like you. You can’t scare away a cow when you want to milk it. People fear to develop Karamoja because of the gun.
“These ministers and permanent secretaries don’t come to you because they fear the gun and even the MPs don’t tell you the dangers of the gun. So I request you to peacefully get rid of this gun completely.â€
Museveni was addressing campaign rallies in Kaabong and Abim districts on Saturday.
He said the Karimojong do not have to fear because the UPDF is strong enough to defend them from aggression from gun-wielding tribes in the neighbouring countries. He named some of the tribes attacking the Karimojong as the Pokot, Turkana and the Dinkas.
“The UPDF is now very powerful. We have managed to build it completely professionally unlike in the past when only a third of it was built,†Museveni said. “We have now got well-equipped soldiers experienced on both land and air. There is no more time for law-breakers to joke around with the army and the entire security of the country. So Karamoja will be peaceful and you will not even attack each other,†he said.
He said the UPDF had exhibited its strength to the extent that Kony had fled and would not return to Uganda.
He asked the karimojong to vote for him and NRM MPs on February 23.
He said the NRM had achieved a lot in karamoja, including UPE, constructing hospitals, health centres and boreholes.