Arrow Boys militia deny deserting the army claims

Apr 03, 2007

THE coordinator of the Arrow Boys militia, Musa Ecweru, has refuted reports that members of the auxiliary forces had disappeared with some guns.

By Charles Ariko

THE coordinator of the Arrow Boys militia, Musa Ecweru, has refuted reports that members of the auxiliary forces had disappeared with some guns. Ecweru explained that the colonels commanding the Arrow Boys and Amuka Boys can account for the guns in their command.

Ecweru was on Thursday responding to allegations made by the Uganda People’s Congress party president, Miria Obote, in a press briefing in last Wednesday.

Obote alleged that members of the Amuka militia group in Lango and the Arrow Boys in Teso deserted the forces, taking unspecified guns.

He said the forces, which include Frontier Guards in Acholi, Amuka in Lango and Arrow Boys in Teso had not deserted as Obote had claimed.

“We know that these boys have not been paid for 10 months and a few individuals have left out of despair.”

Ecweru said the ministries of internal affairs and defence were trying to solve the salary problem, then the forces would be dissolved.

He noted that out of the first 7,000 Arrow Boys recruited during the LRA invasion of Teso, 2,000 were absorbed into the Anti-Stock Theft Unit that guards against Karimojong warriors in Teso. Another 700 were absorbed into the UPDF and others into the Police Force.

He also denied allegations that the thugs committing crimes in Soroti, Kumi and Bukedea districts were Arrow Boys.

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