Events in the last few weeks saw the Daily Monitor running stories on accusations and counter-accusations on the killing and torture of Karimojong by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF). Karamoja region has been, and is still, the most insecure part of this country due to cattle rustling and rampant possession of illegal guns by the warriors.

This scenario retarded the development of the region. Many attempts were made by previous governments to ascertain peace in the region and bring development to the people. Unfortunately, all failed and the efforts were not free from human rights violations. The use of helicopter gunship during the Obote II government saw many lives lost. Idi Amin forced the Karimojong to wear clothes as a sign of civilisation and those who refused were killed.

Karamoja has always been regarded as a neglected and underdeveloped region thus the slogan, "we can not wait for Karamoja to be developed". By implication, the rest of the regions should go on with development if the people of Karamoja are not interested.

This government took Karamoja region as priority by engaging in the disarmament process to put an end to insecurity in the region. In this respect, three steps were taken by the government: call for voluntary handing in of guns by the warriors, creation of the concentrated kraals under the protection of the UPDF and deliberate pursuit of the raiders by the UPDF.

This yielded relative peace in the region but with cases of raids and fights between the UPDF and the warriors. However, complains started to emerge of the cattle in the protected kraals disappearing and others reportedly eaten by the soldiers. Also, the warriors were not given alternative source of livelihood.

The disarmament has been going on for the past 10 years with no sign of when it will end. The presence of the First Lady, who is also the Karamoja State Minister and the first son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in the region should be seen as double blessing for a region which has been forgotten for over 40 years. It portrays the commitment of the first family to the development of the region.

However, the accusation and the counter-accusation that have been going own regarding the killings of the warriors and children by soldiers makes this noble action by the government questionable. MP Kiyonga accused the army of killing 12 innocent Pokot, soldiers torturing civilian in the disarmament process by removing peoples teeth, beaten on the foot, burning suspects using hot metals and hitting the muscles and veins of men around the anus and the testis (Daily Monitor, August 16).

Former spy master David Pulkol, on a separate occasion, said special group under Muhoozi killed a dozen civilians in Moroto District between April and June. MP Peter Lokii, in a dossier to the President, indicated soldiers killed anywhere between 28-43 civilians during an April raid in Lokitelangilam in Regen Sub-county to recover animals the Jei allegedly raided from Dodoth in Kabong.

The President dismissed the allegation by Mr Pulkol as "falsehoods", army spokesman Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye said these allegations are "unfounded" and described MP Kiyonga as a "liar and former rustler and a rustler's sympathiser" , Capt. Kwesiga described Pokot MP Kiyonga as a "desperate" man and instead the Special Group Force lost its combatants and others are still wounded as a result of the engagement with the rustlers and raiders" (Daily Monitor, August 17). Finally, the Fist Lady accused the two politicians of misleading the masses to get votes. She described them as "bankrupt" and "wolves in sheep's skins" (Daily Monitor, August 19).

Morally speaking, it is wrong for the leaders in Karamoja to claim that UPDF are grossly violating human rights in the region, just to win votes. Equally, it's wrong for them to keep quiet when violations are going on for the fear of being framed. The language that has been used to refute the allegations made by these leaders also portrays something cynical.

If these leaders are not honest, there is no need to call them names, but professionally dispprove them to the nation with evidence. Moreover, the ongoing investigation by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) preliminary findings confirms that a number of people, including children and the elderly, were killed in various operations carried out by the UPDF in Kotido between January and April 2010 (Ibid August 16).

Recently, a poll on NTV's On the Spot programme that featured Kulayigye and MP Kiyonga, showed that 58 per cent of the people who voted confirmed there has been gross violation of human rights in Karamoja region. The word "gross" is not simple. It indicates the gravity of the violation.

The right to life and freedom from torture is recognised in the international and regional human rights instruments as well as national constitutions including the Ugandan Constitution. There is therefore need to set up an independent body to investigate the disarmament process in Karamoja. Ugandans and the rest of the world, would like to know what is going on with our brothers and sisters in Karamoja region.

Mr Avuni is the coordinator, Research and Advocacy- John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre