Minister warns on Kony end deadlines
Jun 01, 2003
THE Minister of State for Defence, Ruth Nankabirwa, has directed army officials to stop giving deadlines for finishing off Joseph Kony’s Lords Resistance Army.
By Joyce Namutebi in Apac
THE Minister of State for Defence, Ruth Nankabirwa, has directed army officials to stop giving deadlines for finishing off Joseph Kony’s Lords Resistance Army.
She also said the Government discourages the arming of the civilians to fight Kony.
Nankabirwa had gone to check on UPDF soldiers deployed in Lira and Apac districts to stop infiltration of the LRA.
She addressed soldiers of the 31st Battalion at Ngai and Iceme in Apac and visited Aromo military barracks on Thursday. During the two-day visit, she also addressed wananchi in Ngai and Iceme and met with leaders of the two districts.
Addressing soldiers at Ngai, Nankabirwa said different Army officers have been giving deadlines on when to finish off Kony.
She instead urged the Army to concentrate on the task rather than giving deadlines.
“We must be more vigilant and stop the enemy from infiltrating your area because that is your mission,†she said. She was accompanied by Maj. P.R. Muhanguzi.
Army Commander James Kazini was reported as having said he would resign if Kony was not defeated by December 31, 2002.
The UPDF has deployed in the two districts following a ministerial statement to Parliament by defence minister Amama Mbabazi recently.
Mbabazi told the House that some of the soldiers withdrawn from Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo would be taken to the north and north east to fight Kony and cattle rustlers.
At Iceme, a woman said since the soldiers who had been deployed are still few and they (residents) had undergone mchaka mchaka they should be armed to deal with Kony.
But Nankabirwa said it is the responsibility of the Government to protect its people.
THE Minister of State for Defence, Ruth Nankabirwa, has directed army officials to stop giving deadlines for finishing off Joseph Kony’s Lords Resistance Army.
She also said the Government discourages the arming of the civilians to fight Kony.
Nankabirwa had gone to check on UPDF soldiers deployed in Lira and Apac districts to stop infiltration of the LRA.
She addressed soldiers of the 31st Battalion at Ngai and Iceme in Apac and visited Aromo military barracks on Thursday. During the two-day visit, she also addressed wananchi in Ngai and Iceme and met with leaders of the two districts.
Addressing soldiers at Ngai, Nankabirwa said different Army officers have been giving deadlines on when to finish off Kony.
She instead urged the Army to concentrate on the task rather than giving deadlines.
“We must be more vigilant and stop the enemy from infiltrating your area because that is your mission,†she said. She was accompanied by Maj. P.R. Muhanguzi.
Army Commander James Kazini was reported as having said he would resign if Kony was not defeated by December 31, 2002.
The UPDF has deployed in the two districts following a ministerial statement to Parliament by defence minister Amama Mbabazi recently.
Mbabazi told the House that some of the soldiers withdrawn from Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo would be taken to the north and north east to fight Kony and cattle rustlers.
At Iceme, a woman said since the soldiers who had been deployed are still few and they (residents) had undergone mchaka mchaka they should be armed to deal with Kony.
But Nankabirwa said it is the responsibility of the Government to protect its people.