President Yoweri Museveni has directed the defense Ministry to recruite a total of 2000 LDUs from Karamoja sub region to tackle security issues in the region, Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Aronda Nyakairima has revealed.
Addressing leaders from Karamoja region at Moroto district headquarters during a function to mark the National hero’s day yesterday, Nyakairima said the UPDF has been busy battling with wars like the LRA conflict in northern Uganda and the ADF in the west, making intervention into the Karamoja question difficult. He said other external conflicts like fighting Congo from 1998 to 2003 and the war in Somalia were also responsible for the peace delay in Karamoja.
The 2,000 LDUs to be recruited will be distributed across Karamoja districts excluding Abim. Amudat will have 250 recruits, while Nakapiripirit, Napak and Moroto districts will recruite 300 per district. Other 400 recruits will be got from Kotido and another 450 from Kaabong. The recruitment will take effect immediately after the reading of the budget.
“The LDUs will basically play the role of zonal protection while the UPDF will concentrate on the disarmament and deployments along the international borders” Nyakairima said.
Mr. Nyakairima who was accompanied by other top army officials said Karamoja has lagged behind in terms of social and economic development because of the difficult security issues in the region. He told leaders that Government is now committed to tackle the problems in the region by recruiting Special Forces from the region to finish up the disarmament exercise.
“Peace is irresistible; we must fight for it because it will give way to overwhelming development in this region”. He said
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