Kampala — Members of Parliament have urged the army top brass to stop issuing deadlines for the defeat of rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army in Northern Uganda.

The MPs say the deadlines are useless.

Otuke MP Omara Atubo told Parliament recently that the Army Commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini should honour his promise and quit if Kony is not defeated by Dec. 31.

"People of Otuke have suffered since 1986, first with cattle rustling and then LRA. Now you hear Kazini issuing deadlines yet 1000 people were abducted last month in my area," Atubo said.

MPs were debating President Yoweri Museveni's address to Parliament late last month. Atubo said the president distorted history by saying that in March, 1986, 11,000 soldiers of the defeated UPC army crossed to Sudan with six helicopters.

Atubo said NRA defeated the Tito Okellos not UPC. He said much as Museveni dislikes UPC and Obote, he should stick to the truth.

John Kazoora (Kashari) said statements like Kony survives by a whisker, Opoka trapped in Pader, UPDF grabs Kony's Kaunda suit and others can be equated to rumuor mongering.

Kazoora wondered why Museveni wants to buy more equipment for the army yet NRA, a ragtag army with small rifles managed to defeat the UNLA with big weapons.

Kasule Lumumba (woman Bugiri) said utterances by government agents like Ofwono Opondo jeopardise negotiations.

Ofwono said recently that Maj. Gen Ali Bamuze is not serious in his demands. Kasule said Kazini will be embarrassed if he doesn't meet the Kony deadline.

Minister of State for Housing Capt. Francis Babu urged MPs to stop condemning the president and instead advise him on the way forward.

Mawokota North MP Peter Mutuluza said government should investigate why the Acholi have continued to support LRA.