Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has refuted security laxity allegations by Michael Lakony, LCV Chairman of Amuru District.

Lakony claims that security laxity has led to the deaths of over 200 people in Acholi-Madi tribal clashes in Apaa. Over time, there have been ongoing clashes between the Madi and Acholi.

In 2015, the government demarcated the boundary between Amuru and Adjumani amidst protests from the people of Amuru. The leaders of Amuru said that the process only involved people from Adjumani and that the boundary was extended inside Amuru. Since then, the area has witnessed conflicts that have led to deaths, the destruction of properties, and the displacement of people.

According to Capt. Kato Ahmed Hassan, the spokesperson of the fourth division of UPDF, Lakony’s lamentation was baseless and with no clarity, but with the intention to drag the joint forces as parties to the tribal conflict, indicating that the forces support the Madi against the Acholi in Amuru and dismissing the efforts of the forces in ensuring that sanity and calmness prevail in the areas of Amuru and Adjumani.

Last year, the Joint Forces of Uganda Police (FFPU) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces were deployed in Zoka and Apaa, a small area that was the centre of the conflict. The clashes between the two communities have been greatly minimised due to the massive deployment of our security personnel along their mobility corridors, which both communities could use to cause attacks on each other.

Apparently, the attacks and killings of last year and early this year were registered 30–50 km west of Apaa towards the Nile and 15km north east of Apaa in Pakele sub-county, an area where the Acholi and Madi communities have peacefully lived in existence since the 1970s to date but not Apaa as always reported.

 “The Joint Forces have equally deployed in the general areas of Pakele to help curb the situation, respectively. Apaa itself is safe, although politicians are generalising the entire region of Adjumani to fulfil their selfish interests best known to them,” he said.

He warned the politicians to refrain from negatively influencing and inciting the innocent, peace-loving communities of Acholi and Madi into the bloody clashes. 

Capt. Kato urged both communities to stop the opening of new fields away from our known established defences for their own safety, given the challenging pattern of settlements in the communities where they leave in isolated homes, distant from each other, making it hard to deploy forces for each homestead.

 “We have been conducting patrols and periodic relief of our forces to ensure that security service delivery is not bolstered or compromised for some reason. The Joint Forces have kicked off investigations on prominent known leaders from both communities who have been behind the mobilisation of the violent youths and arming them with bows and arrows to commit violence,” he said.

He said the same leaders have been awarding and illegally selling land in these areas after the expulsion of their occupants from their lands; however, their networks will be dismantled.

 “The joint forces are working hard to apprehend perpetrators and bring them to account. UPDF is committed to cooperating with other security agencies to ensure that the enemies of peace are defeated. We appeal to the community to remain calm,” he said.

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At least ten people are reported dead in a fatal accident which occurred along the Iganga-Tororo highway in Bugiri District.

In a statement issued by Michael Kananura, Spokesperson Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, noted that the accident occurred yesterday at around 07:50 pm, which involved six vehicles.

Kananura said that Preliminary information indicates that the motor vehicles were all moving in the same direction towards Tororo, except for one vehicle, registration number KAE 254c/ZA 5971, a tanker loaded with molasses, which was traveling in the opposite direction towards Iganga.

“Motor vehicle registration number UAW 963m, a Toyota HiAce, attempted to overtake a queue of vehicles. The driver noticed an oncoming vehicle while still overtaking and swerved to the left to yield, unaware that the oncoming vehicle was a trailer tanker loaded with molasses and pulling another trailer,” he said.  

He added that the rear part of the trailer collided with the taxi, crushing it against another trailer, KBJ 155c/ZD 2621, a Mercedes Benz. Consequently, the trailer tanker lost control, overturned, and caught fire.

“10 people, including 8 passengers of the taxi, its driver, and the trailer tanker driver, lost their lives on the spot,” Kananura revealed.

The traffic police responded to the scene immediately, and the bodies were transported to Bugiri hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.

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The government backtracked on the animal quarantine imposed on Kampala City. On March1, 2023, Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala City Authority, banned the transportation and sale of animal products after foot and mouth disease broke out in Kampala.

Lt. Col. (Rtd) Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal husbandry, however, said the restriction was based on a report of a sick animal in one zero grazing unit in Rubaga Division on February 28, 2024.

“The technical team has since established that the disease is localized, and the sick herd has been treated and put under strict surveillance,” he said.

He said the guidelines for safe trade in animals and animal products in non-affected areas issued on February 2, 2024, shall apply to Kampala City, i.e., abattoirs operating in non-affected areas or sub-counties shall continue to receive non-affected animals as long as they do not come from or pass through affected areas.

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Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has raised concern over the mismanagement of taxpayers’ money where the Ministry of Agriculture spent Shs15 billion in the Goat Roll-Out project that was implemented in seven (7) districts.

The concern was raised by John Kikonyogo, FDC spokesperson during the media briefing held today at Najjanankumbi.

“Our attention has been drawn to the concerns raised in the Auditor General’s report regarding the Shs15 billion Goat Roll-Out project that was implemented in seven districts. The Ministry of Agriculture imported 71 goats at a cost of Shs528 million,” Kikonyogo noted.

He added that shockingly, the report reveals that Shs7.3 million was spent on each goat, yet the majority of them died within the first week after distribution. Many of the purchased goats were sick and malnourished.

“Our concern as a party lies in the government’s continued mismanagement of taxpayer money and affairs of the country. Despite the commendable work of the Auditor General in exposing such theft, we do not understand why Parliament fails to take action. Parliament has the authority to decline allocating further funds to these taxpayer money vampires, yet they keep approving allocations to them year after year,” Kikonyogo said.

He added, “We must not forget past scandals, such as the exorbitant purchase of pens by Bank of Uganda at Shs357,000, and the purchase of rats during Covid-19 at a cost of 8 million shillings, where individuals involved were merely questioned by parliamentary committees and allowed to go unpunished.”

Last week, while appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Steven Kajura, Project Coordinator at the Ministry of Agriculture defended the cost spent on each goat saying the goats were bought from South Africa and was of a higher pedigree.

“The goats were bought from South Africa and Namibia, we bought high pedigree animals and that includes insurance and flight costs, so it came to Shs7.3 million the exotic pedigree animals are usually very expensive, you are free to google and you will come to around the same range,” Kajura explained.

According to the Auditor General, John Muwanga, all the 150 goats distributed in Nakasongola district worth Shs52.5 million had died, whereas in Gomba district, out of the 700 goats distributed worth Shs 245 million, 259 goats valued at Shs90.7 million had died, thus indicating that a total of 409 goats out of 850 distributed in Gomba and Nakasongola worth Shs143 million had died by the time of audit in September 2023.

Kikonyogo has revealed that it is very clear that this government lacks the will to combat corruption in this country noting that the would-be culprits the would-be culprits have now learned the “trick”, they are summoned to the committee, pretend to be terrified, talk softly, don’t argue, sweat profusely and ask for water, then go home and enjoy the “loot” and wait for the next allocation.

 “We demand that urgent action be taken against any individuals who mismanage public funds and be held accountable for their actions.” He noted. 

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The five suspects implicated in the murder of Daniel Bbosa, the former head of the Ndiga clan, have been remanded to Luzira prison.

The five suspects include Noah Lugya, Harriet Nakabale Nakiguli, Ezra Mayanja Ezra, Milly Naluwenda, and Joseph Nakabale.

Appearing before Mwanga II Magistrate Court, the five were charged with murder and subsequently remanded to Luzira Prison till April 11.

Bbosa was fatally shot on February 25, 2024, by assailants as he was approaching his residence in Kikandwa Zone, Lungujja Parish, Lubaga Division.

The assailants, riding on a motorcycle, opened fire at Bbosa’s motor vehicle, bearing registration number UAH 637X, resulting in his immediate demise.

During the heinous act, a vigilant resident bravely intervened, knocking down the assailants’ motorcycle and alerting the community. Swiftly, members of the community mobilized, leading to a confrontation with the assailants. Mob justice ensued, resulting in the death of one assailant at the scene, while the other remains in critical condition.

Police recovered the firearm allegedly used in the murder incident, along with the motorcycle registration number UEX 754E, used by the assailants during the attack.

Last week, police put up a Shs10 million cash prize on Lujja Bbosa Tabula, the prime suspect in the gun down of Eng Bbosa.

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