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The Monitor (Kampala)
November 1, 2003
Posted to the web October 31, 2003
Ahmed Wetaka & Wilfred Masaba
Sironko
Local residents here are unhappy with the RDC, Mr Charles Rwabuhinga Adyeri for abandoning them after the Karimojong cattle raids.
The residents say Rwabuhinga is blocking their request to get arms for protection.
But Rwabuhinga insists that cattle thefts are being carried out by local boys who disguise themselves as Karimojong raiders.
The RDC's position has angered some of the community leaders. "We want him to prove that it is our sons. It is like the RDC is laughing at our plight instead of helping us fight the raiders," Mr Wamburu Sam, the district secretary for defense said.
Residents from Muyembe, Bukhalu and Bunambutye sub-countries, the most affected areas, drafted a memo to President Yoweri Museveni asking him to intervene.
Wamburu says they want their local defence unit personnel trained some time back to be armed.
The RDC however, claims that there are no guarantees that the weapons will be used properly.
"There is no armoury for guns in Sironko district and we need to establish the motive of those asking for the guns," Rwabuhinga said.
The residents also want government to establish a military barracks at Kaata, which was promised by Museveni during the Movement national conference.
