By Alex B. Atuhaire
September 30, 2003
Arrow Group leaders say UPC is a spent force
KAMPALA -- The leaders of the Arrow Group could be tried for atrocities committed in Teso, the UPC has warned.
The Arrow Group is a local militia fighting the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in Teso.
The UPC’s Presidential Policy Commission Chairman Dr James Rwanyarare wrote on Monday, saying that the leaders of the Arrow Group are contravening Articles 209 and 210 of the Constitution.
“The UPC wishes to express and record its outrage at your [Arrow Group] unconstitutional and illegal role in the current unfortunate civil war raging on in Teso,” he said.
“UPC puts you at notice that at an appropriate time, you will be called upon to answer for all your unconstitutional and illegal activities which have led to loss of life, property and massive displacement of people,” Rwanyarare wrote.
The letter is addressed to six leaders including Capt. Mike Mukula, the junior health minister and MP for Soroti Municipality and MP John Eresu (Kaberamaido). Others are Kasese Resident District Commissioner, Mr Musa Ecweru, Soroti LC-V Chairman Capt. E. Otekat and Mr George William Omuge, the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) in Soroti.
It’s copied to President Museveni, the speaker of parliament, heads of diplomatic missions and the head of civil service among others.
The articles cited by UPC lists the UPDF and its functions, which include, protecting civilians.
Arrow Group leaders were yesterday unmoved by the UPC’s warning. They said Rwanyarare’s group is a spent force.
“As far as we are concerned the Constitution says it’s the responsibility of the state to guarantee security for the citizens. At times the state cannot do this without involving the citizens. So we are in our mandate as citizens,” Ecweru said on phone.
Ecweru asked the public to ignore UPC. “Rwanyarare and group don’t amount to anything. I don’t think it’s wise to spend our energy discussing what Rwanyarare and group said. They are a spent force and Ugandans should just ignore them,” he said.
UPC says civil servants breaking law
According to the UPC letter, recruiting and deploying youths to fight the rebels is unconstitutional. The letter also accuses civil servants like Ecweru of trying to serve government in both civilian and military capacity.
“You have no constitutional or legal authority to raise an armed group or even an intelligence service outside the law. It is illegal for the so called volunteers under the Arrow Group to be under the command of UPDF,” the letter said.
The UPC has also said that it is not constitutional for the Arrow Group to dress in military uniform.
“Donning yourselves in military garb and movement in military vehicles (mamba) is illegal and you ought to have been prosecuted by now,” the letters says.
Party says Museveni liar
At the UPC’s weekly media briefing yesterday, the Presidential Policy Commission Vice-Chairman, Henry Mayega brushed off President Museveni’s claims that all able-bodied Ugandans are obliged to master military science.
“Claims by Lt. Gen. Museveni that the Arrow Boys and chakamchaka graduates are UPDF’s reserves is a blatant lie,” Mayega told the press.
Museveni in a terse letter to The Monitor over the weekend defended the Arrow Group, saying their actions were in accordance with article 3(4) of the constitution which requires all able-bodied Ugandans to master military science and defend the country.
“There is no such a provision in the Constitution. That article simply obliges Ugandans to resist the overthrow of the constitution. The resistance need not be military,” Mayega said yesterday.
© 2003 The Monitor Publications
