Museveni Threatens to shake up the UPDF in Karamoja

Soldiers are not Priests
Saturday 15th May 2010
President Yoweri Museveni has blamed the prevailing act of cattle theft in Karamoja on the UPDF. Addressing a rally at Pokot Senior Secondary school in newly created Amudat district last week, Museveni said unlike the priests, soldiers should not preach, but fight for peace. The president promised to command the attack on cattle raiders by himself if those in charge have failed.

"Am now going to deal with them, if these soldiers here have failed, I will get those who can do the work or I will come and do it myself then you will know what the army means." Museveni hungrily said.
The president blamed the army for being lazy and cowards over the handling of the disarmament programme in Karamoja.

"This is laziness by the army. The army should get more serious. Very very serious because am going to shake them up. You can not punish people because the Pokot have passed near their kraals and stolen cows. There is no way they can raid, especially if the army is armed."

Museveni said government would compensate those who lost their animals to the raiders.
He was reacting to reports that cattle rustlers including the Pokot from neighbouring Kenya have been staging raids in Karamoja, killing innocent civilians and destroying property.Museveni said those who are still having illegal guns in pokot should surrender them immediately or a forceful means will apply.

"Those remaining with guns should bring them or hand them over to the Kenyan government if they are in Kenya. I have been talking to president Kibaki about this. They should not disturb Uganda “the 65 year old president said.

Communities complained to the president that those who willingly surrender their guns become victims as their cattle are raided off easily and some lose lives in the process. They also alleged that the army punishes them when they report incidences of raids.

Museveni who is on a prosperity for all gospel in the Karamoja sub-region told the Karimojong that poverty in the region can only go to the dogs after the achievement of total peace in the area. He said Karamoja has a lot of wealth but insecurity can not allow easy exploitation, a thing that has made Karamoja lag behind.