The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has announced plans to phase out Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel recruited and deployed in Karamoja.
The plan aimed at streamlining all LDU activities in Karamoja was on announced by the commander of Land forces, Lt General Peter Elwelu, while addressing the media at the UPDF 3rd division headquarters in Moroto.
Gen Elwelu said the army’s decision to phase out LDU activities in Karamoja follows investigations that proved- some Karimojong who were trained as LDU personnel had become a security threat.
He said, this will prompt screening of the LDUs where those with good record will be taken back for refresher training and later get integrated into the national army, Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).
” Upon screening, we shall retire those who will have been found to have criminal records,” he said.
In 2010, President Museveni directed the recruitment of at least 2,400 former Karimojong cattle rustlers as LDU personnel to help in consolidating the peace achieved by security agencies in the region since the disarmament program started in 2001.
However, many complaints have been raised against the LDUs with locals attributing current cattle raids to the LDUs; and to Lt.Gen Peter Elwelu’s acknowledgement.
Newly elected district chairperson of Nabilatuk district, Mr Paul Lokol welcomed the army’s plan to phase out the Local Defence Unit personnel saying it will be relief to the people of Karamoja.
According to Lokol, the purpose for which the LDUs were recruited had lost meaning since the same LDUs were giving their relatives guns and bullets to execute raids.
John Loputhyang, a member of Kautakou peace committee in Napak district proposed that after disbanding the LDUs, the army should resume serious operations to get rid of illegal guns in Karamoja.
“Those have been our recommendations to the army as the Peace committee chairpersons because what we have been seeing was not something pleasing at all,” he said.
Source: Monitor