Mercy Nalugo
28 March 2008
Kampala — KAABONG District, RDC Geoffrey Kiwanda yesterday alleged that some UPDF soldiers are selling guns and ammunition to the Karimojong.
Flanked by the Dodoth County MP, Fr Simon Lodou, Mr Kiwanda told journalists at Parliament that the UPDF is not only selling impounded cattle but also guns and ammunition.
"Whenever we track these guns from Karimojong during the disarmament operations, we recover our very own guns which the UPDF soldiers sell to them but we shall try the suspects in the field court martial," he claimed.
He alleged that the Karimojong buy guns not only from the neighbouring Sudan and Kenya but also from the UPDF soldiers to protect themselves against cattle raiders.
The third division spokesperson, Lt Henry Obbo, said of recent they have not had any cases of government guns being recovered from the Karimojong except for a few cases late last year of soldiers who lost their guns to warriors.
He admitted that some LDUs deserted with government guns.
"We are very serious with our guns and we have spot-checks of all guns issued and an armory committee," Lt Obbo said, adding that they have communicated to all army units that they are considering field court martial for those officers who fail to protect their guns.
Over 10 army officers and intelligence officers were arrested on Saturday in connection with cattle thefts in Karamoja sub region.
The officers were conniving with local leaders to sell cattle recovered in disarmament operations in Karamoja.
The officers in question are Maj. Alex Bakubanja, Capt George Byaruhanga, Lt Enock Musinguzi, and Lt Bosco Maliamungu among others.
The officers are being held at the 3rd Division headquarters in Moroto after they connived with local council chairpersons in Kaabong and stole cattle that had been impounded.
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