10,000 Amuka fighters training
Dec 07, 2003
The first batch of 10,000 anti-Kony fighters under the Amuka militia group in Lango, have started training in Lira, youth state minister Okot - Ogong has said.
By Denis Ocwich
The first batch of 10,000 anti-Kony fighters under the Amuka militia group in Lango, have started training in Lira, youth state minister Okot - Ogong has said.
Okot, the overall co-ordinator of the Amuka campaign on Friday said: “We are going to have a short but very comprehensive training.â€
He said the militia, who were recruited through the sub-county security committees and elders, were being trained in different locations at constituency level.
Army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza yesterday said that the UPDF chief of training and operations, Col. Muhesi, was in Lira to oversee the training.
He said the Amuka fighters would be given guns and they would be under the command of the army.
“We are going to arm the whole of Lango,†he said, but added that they would begin with the worst hit areas in Lira, especially in Dokolo, Erute and Moroto counties.
Okot said after the first batch of 10,000 is deployed, another batch would be trained.
Speaking at the Lira district chambers during the launch of Amuka mass struggle against the rebels, Okot said President Museveni had agreed to give the Langi as many guns as they want to fight Kony.
“In each village, we are going to deploy 20 Amuka fighters to defend the people.†The district chairman, Franco Ojur said, “This is a joint struggle by the Langi.
Ends
The first batch of 10,000 anti-Kony fighters under the Amuka militia group in Lango, have started training in Lira, youth state minister Okot - Ogong has said.
Okot, the overall co-ordinator of the Amuka campaign on Friday said: “We are going to have a short but very comprehensive training.â€
He said the militia, who were recruited through the sub-county security committees and elders, were being trained in different locations at constituency level.
Army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza yesterday said that the UPDF chief of training and operations, Col. Muhesi, was in Lira to oversee the training.
He said the Amuka fighters would be given guns and they would be under the command of the army.
“We are going to arm the whole of Lango,†he said, but added that they would begin with the worst hit areas in Lira, especially in Dokolo, Erute and Moroto counties.
Okot said after the first batch of 10,000 is deployed, another batch would be trained.
Speaking at the Lira district chambers during the launch of Amuka mass struggle against the rebels, Okot said President Museveni had agreed to give the Langi as many guns as they want to fight Kony.
“In each village, we are going to deploy 20 Amuka fighters to defend the people.†The district chairman, Franco Ojur said, “This is a joint struggle by the Langi.
Ends