Kitgum’s 10 days of ‘Natural Fire’
Oct 30, 2009
WHAT were 563 US soldiers doing in Kitgum for 10 days? Was the US army planning to set up a base to closely monitor Sudan? These were the questions residents asked when US soldiers pitched camp there.
BY CHRIS OCOWUNÂ Â Â Â Â
WHAT were 563 US soldiers doing in Kitgum for 10 days? Was the US army planning to set up a base to closely monitor Sudan? These were the questions residents asked when US soldiers pitched camp there.
The answer is the soldiers were participating in a multi-national military exercise involving six armies.
The 10-day exercise that was code named ‘Natural Fire 10’, was held from October 16 to October 25 in Kitgum. The US army came together with armies from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi in an exercise focusing on military training, humanitarian assistance and regional security.
According to the US embassy information assistant, John Dunne, there were 1,228 participants; 563 were from the US and there were 133 soldiers from each of the other five nations.
Residents benefited from the exercise. They were treated at medical camps, infrastructure was renovated and sold crafts. In fact, during the closure of Natural Fire 10, the resident district commissioner, Alfred Ogaba, said: “In the last 10 days you have caused a mini inflation.†He was right. Beef prices doubled from sh5,000 a kilo to sh10,000, a packet of cigarettes from sh2,000 to sh6,000 and the price of Royal Vodka sachets increased to sh800 from sh500.
Military exercises
The soldiers, who pitched camp at Agwata and Pajimo villages in Palabek and Akwang sub-counties, started the exercise with a parade.Â
Thereafter, Dunne said, they engaged in military field training exercises, which included range shooting at Nyono hills, weapon familiarisation, convoy security, crowd and riot control, route security and martial arts. Other exercises included vehicle control point, area security and non-lethal ammunition. Â
In Kampala and Entebbe, senior officers were engaged in a table-top exercise of facing simulated emergencies to sharpen their military skills of co-ordinating response to disasters, humanitarian assistance and pandemic situations.
Medical exercises
There were medical camps at Pajimo, Palabek and Mucwini health centres and at Kitgum Hospital.
More than 10,000 people were treated by the military doctors. Soldiers were overwhelmed by the numbers. Rwandan Capt. Theogene Ruranga, a doctor ,said: “Patients queuing up are many, but we are trying our best to see all of them.â€
Health education classes on HIV/AIDS, nutrition and hygiene were also conducted.
Teamwork
Right from Entebbe and Kampala to Kitgum, the exercise tested the ability of the six armies to accomplish tasks in military and disaster management together. Â
Capt. Ronald Kakurungu, a spokesman for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, said the exercise tested the ability of East African armies to work together. “Being able to work together improves our capability to respond to complex humanitarian emergencies,†he said.
Kitgum gains
The dining hall of Kitgum High School, two classroom blocks at Mucwini Primary School and the maternity ward at Kitgum Hospital were renovated.
Other improvements included repairing roofs, windows and doors, walls and placing a concrete floor at Kitgum High School.
The dilapidated grave of Archbishop Jonan Luwum, who was killed by former president Idi Amin in 1977, was repaired.
Natural Fire
Natural Fire was pioneered by the US and Kenya armies in 1998.
In 2000, it included Tanzania and Uganda. Since then, it has been held every two years in East Africa.
In 2006, the exercises expanded to include field training and humanitarian assistance.
When Rwanda and Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC), they were also invited.
The first exercises involving all East African armies took place in September 2009 at Mlima Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
The US coordinator of the exercises is US Army Africa, (USARAF). USARAF aims at partnering with African nations to increase stability, security and peace on the continent.
Uganda’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Eriya Kategaya, said when armies co-operate, it results in peaceful ways of resolving problems. “This will enhance the capacity of the East African forces in ensuring regional security,†added Kategaya, who is also the minister in charge of EAC affairs.
Decorations
The US Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. William Garret III, who was the director of Natural Fire 10, presented the Commander’s Coins (recognition for excellence) to Lt. Innocent Gapira, 2nd Lt. Rashid Mbavu (both from Rwanda) and Lt. Arthur Paul Kyoffa (Uganda).
Mbavu and Kyoffa, both engineers, were recognised for their efforts in the renovation of Kitgum High School and hospital.
Gapira served as an instructor during checkpoint security training.
The war exercises were concluded with traditional dances by Ndere Troupe and Acholi traditional dancers, despite a downpour.
WHAT were 563 US soldiers doing in Kitgum for 10 days? Was the US army planning to set up a base to closely monitor Sudan? These were the questions residents asked when US soldiers pitched camp there.
The answer is the soldiers were participating in a multi-national military exercise involving six armies.
The 10-day exercise that was code named ‘Natural Fire 10’, was held from October 16 to October 25 in Kitgum. The US army came together with armies from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi in an exercise focusing on military training, humanitarian assistance and regional security.
According to the US embassy information assistant, John Dunne, there were 1,228 participants; 563 were from the US and there were 133 soldiers from each of the other five nations.
Residents benefited from the exercise. They were treated at medical camps, infrastructure was renovated and sold crafts. In fact, during the closure of Natural Fire 10, the resident district commissioner, Alfred Ogaba, said: “In the last 10 days you have caused a mini inflation.†He was right. Beef prices doubled from sh5,000 a kilo to sh10,000, a packet of cigarettes from sh2,000 to sh6,000 and the price of Royal Vodka sachets increased to sh800 from sh500.
Military exercises
The soldiers, who pitched camp at Agwata and Pajimo villages in Palabek and Akwang sub-counties, started the exercise with a parade.Â
Thereafter, Dunne said, they engaged in military field training exercises, which included range shooting at Nyono hills, weapon familiarisation, convoy security, crowd and riot control, route security and martial arts. Other exercises included vehicle control point, area security and non-lethal ammunition. Â
In Kampala and Entebbe, senior officers were engaged in a table-top exercise of facing simulated emergencies to sharpen their military skills of co-ordinating response to disasters, humanitarian assistance and pandemic situations.
Medical exercises
There were medical camps at Pajimo, Palabek and Mucwini health centres and at Kitgum Hospital.
More than 10,000 people were treated by the military doctors. Soldiers were overwhelmed by the numbers. Rwandan Capt. Theogene Ruranga, a doctor ,said: “Patients queuing up are many, but we are trying our best to see all of them.â€
Health education classes on HIV/AIDS, nutrition and hygiene were also conducted.
Teamwork
Right from Entebbe and Kampala to Kitgum, the exercise tested the ability of the six armies to accomplish tasks in military and disaster management together. Â
Capt. Ronald Kakurungu, a spokesman for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, said the exercise tested the ability of East African armies to work together. “Being able to work together improves our capability to respond to complex humanitarian emergencies,†he said.
Kitgum gains
The dining hall of Kitgum High School, two classroom blocks at Mucwini Primary School and the maternity ward at Kitgum Hospital were renovated.
Other improvements included repairing roofs, windows and doors, walls and placing a concrete floor at Kitgum High School.
The dilapidated grave of Archbishop Jonan Luwum, who was killed by former president Idi Amin in 1977, was repaired.
Natural Fire
Natural Fire was pioneered by the US and Kenya armies in 1998.
In 2000, it included Tanzania and Uganda. Since then, it has been held every two years in East Africa.
In 2006, the exercises expanded to include field training and humanitarian assistance.
When Rwanda and Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC), they were also invited.
The first exercises involving all East African armies took place in September 2009 at Mlima Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
The US coordinator of the exercises is US Army Africa, (USARAF). USARAF aims at partnering with African nations to increase stability, security and peace on the continent.
Uganda’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Eriya Kategaya, said when armies co-operate, it results in peaceful ways of resolving problems. “This will enhance the capacity of the East African forces in ensuring regional security,†added Kategaya, who is also the minister in charge of EAC affairs.
Decorations
The US Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. William Garret III, who was the director of Natural Fire 10, presented the Commander’s Coins (recognition for excellence) to Lt. Innocent Gapira, 2nd Lt. Rashid Mbavu (both from Rwanda) and Lt. Arthur Paul Kyoffa (Uganda).
Mbavu and Kyoffa, both engineers, were recognised for their efforts in the renovation of Kitgum High School and hospital.
Gapira served as an instructor during checkpoint security training.
The war exercises were concluded with traditional dances by Ndere Troupe and Acholi traditional dancers, despite a downpour.