UPDF Starts Detonation of Explosives in Pader District

The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) has started a detonation exercise to destroy unexploded ordinances in Pader district.

The Pader Resident District Commissioner, Dusman Okee says the exercise that started on Wednesday will run for two months. It follows a resolution reached during the district security committee. The committee has been receiving several reports from the public particularly the farming communities about the overwhelming numbers of abandoned unexploded ordinances being recovered in their gardens during the rainy season.

The UPDF 5th Division Commander Brigadier General William Bainomugisha says the exercise will majorly focus on areas presumed to have been escape corridors used by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels.

According to Brig. Gen. Bainomugisha, majority of the unexploded ordinances earmarked for destruction have been spotted in the Sub Counties of Latanya, Laguti, Angagura, Acholi Bur, Awere, Lapul and Pajule in Pader district. Brig. Gen. Bainomugisha adds that the bombs include; rocket propeller launchers, stick and hand grenade, anti-aircraft bombs and anti-tank mines amidst other ammunition.

The Laguti Sub County LCIII Chairperson Christopher Mwaka says the exercise is a big relief to the farming communities that had initially reported the discovery of unexploded ordinances in their gardens.

According to Mwaka, the unexploded bombs were discovered last year in the villages of Tumalyec, Kampala and Ongako in Lapyem parish and the sites have been restricted to the community.

The Pader district speaker who doubles as the Latanya Sub County councillor says farming communities in the villages of Golo, Akino and Latigi villages in Golo parishes have since been abandoned for fear of the unexploded ordinances.

Okee says they suspect that more unexploded ordinances are still scattered in the area and urges the civilian population to always exhibit extra vigilance and always report any suspicious object which they are not acquainted with to security for subsequent detonation.

-URN