ugnet_: Army Dares UPC to firing practice

[Omar Kezimbira]

Army dares UPC to firing practice
By Alex B. Atuhaire
July 25, 2003 -Monitor

The Uganda People's Congress on Wednesday said that an inquiry into ghost soldiers was a cover up by the government. Lt. Gen. Yoweri Museveni last month ordered an inquiry into ghost soldiers on the army payroll. But the UPC's acting presidential commission chairman, Mr Henry Mayega, said that the inquiry only confirmed what Ugandans had known for a long time: "That the UPDF is a bastion of theft, greed and source of primitive accumulation by leaders." But the army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza, could not take it lying down. He said that the UPDF has held the state together for 17 years unlike the UPC government that was twice overthrown in a military coup. "If they were such exemplary leaders, where were they when they were twice overthrown by their armies?" Bantariza said. The UPC leaders had also accused the UPDF of producing fake ammunition at the Nakasongola arms factory. But again Bantariza dared them. "I am challenging the UPC leaders to line up at the Constitutional Square and we use that fake ammunition from Nakasongola to fire at them to see whether it is fake," the army spokesman said.

� 2003 The Monitor Publications

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