Kampala — Pader district leaders have asked government to arm the local Acholi communities in northern Uganda as a way to end the northern war and suffering of civilians there.

"Let government accept in all honesty to give our people guns so that each community will be able to defend itself against the rebel attacks," MP for Agago county Morris Ogenga Latigo has said.

He was on Saturday addressing the press at a press conference organised by district leaders from Pader district. The meeting, facilitated by ActionAid Uganda, took place at International Rescue Committee offices in Lira and. It was attended by senior district leaders and NGOs that operate in Pader.

"Today, the rebels move in small units. However, since they have guns and the people have no way of protecting themselves against these small units, they cannot fight them. If we had guns, we would be able to counterattack. In appealing to government to give us guns, we are not saying it has failed in the war but we believe arming the communities is the quickest way to end the insurgency in the north," Latigo said.

At the same press conference, Pader LC-V Chairman Edwin Yakobo Komakech said the insurgency has paralysed development in the district.

"The district, which is new, had picked up considerably in the past 18 months. [But] since the insurgency broke out all economic and social activities have come to a standstill," Komakech said.

The district leaders said they had briefed the UPDF Division 4 commander about arming the local communities and they were awaiting government response.

Pader district Chief Administrative Officer Wilfred Nyeko said the insurgency has caused malaria and cholera epidemic besides drought and hunger.

Nyeko said 24,780 people in Pader have been displaced by the war while 10,462 homes have been destroyed by rebels and about 3,870 boys and girls aged 7-18 have been abducted.

The district leaders appealed to government and donors to provide more humanitarian to the displaced people.