Major Isaac Oware, the UPDF 3rd infantry division spokesperson said that they are continuing to receive more troops throughout this week amounting to a battalion that comprises 740 soldiers.
The Uganda People's Defence Forces
continues to receive more troops that will be deployed in the troubled areas
within Karamoja and along the borders of Kenya and South Sudan to curb cattle rustling.
On 15th April, the
first two battalions arrived in the region and were deployed along the
Teso-Karamoja border to stop suspected Karamojong warriors from raiding
livestock from Teso.
Major Isaac Oware, the UPDF 3rd infantry
division spokesperson said that they are continuing to receive more
troops throughout this week amounting to a battalion that comprises 740
soldiers.
Oware says the soldiers will be
expected to boost the existing manpower and prevent alliances of Karamojong
warriors and the Turkana which fueled the mayhem in the region.
‘’We are receiving the second
batch of troops to enhance our operations in the most troublesome places in
karamoja and along the borders. ’’he said.
Oware says that despite the heavy
deployment, they shall continue to work with local leaders and communities to
end the cattle rustling and promote lasting peace.
//cue in :’’The 3rd infantry
division continues to...//
//cue out: ‘’ to the north east to
republic of south Sudan.’’//
On Thursday last week, the state
minister for Karamoja affairs Agnes Nandutu met a community in Nakiloro village
Rupa sub-county in Moroto district to discuss how best they can cooperate to
end the insecurity in Karamoja.
During the meeting, Mark Lopuke a
resident of Nakiloro village revealed to the minister that they don’t own guns
but instead they borrow from their friends in Turkana for looting and return
back.
Lopuke also admitted that their
friends in Turkana keep their guns for security purposes and they don't use them for dubious acts, but it is hunger and poverty forcing Karamojong youth to
borrow guns from Turkana just to look for survival.
URN has learnt that the ongoing
deployment has met opposition from a section of leaders who call for a total
change of top army leadership to stop the cycle of cattle raids.
Joseph Otita the LC3 chairperson
Rupa sub-county in Moroto district reiterated his dissatisfaction with the
ongoing deployment because of the existing top army leadership whom he claims is corrupt.
Otita noted that although there
have been some changes made in the security organs and the current deployment,
he’s not convinced because he wants to see the old system reshuffled so that
they can vet new ones coming on board.
He said corruption by some security
officers is the one keeping the insecurity situation alive in the region,
adding that all these wrong elements should be swept away.
//cue in : ‘’the corruption by army
is...//
cue out : ‘’ commanders
,everything must come new.’’//
President Museveni is
expected to pitch a camp in Karamoja where he will meet various stakeholders to
explore ways of ending the current insecurity.
