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KAMPALA � An intelligence officer in the
Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) has deserted.
Lt. Akuna,
whose second name could not be readily established, disappeared last month
while he was accompanying President Yoweri Museveni to Japan and
Thailand.
Army
Spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza confirmed Friday that Akuna had deserted
the unit. He said Akuna deserted to go for kyeyo (casual employment) in
Japan.
Security
sources told Sunday Monitor that the PGB officer is now doing casual jobs
in Japan. Bantariza said that Akuna faces charges of desertion in
accordance with the army statute of 1992.
He said the
officer would be court-martialed and faces up to a maximum sentence of
life imprisonment, upon conviction. Mr Museveni left for Thailand on
October 1 and returned on October 4 after attending a conference in
Japan.
Akuna was on
the president�s security advance team that left two days ahead of the
president�s entourage. He disappeared from his colleagues after reaching
Japan.
The PGB
Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Jack Bakasumba, said Friday that other
presidential escorts had deserted the unit before but there was no cause
for alarm.
�Some few
elements have deserted and gone out but we have the lowest number of
desertions,� he told Sunday Monitor.
Bantariza
dismissed claims that Akuna�s disappearance was symptomatic of more
desertions from the PGB.
�But let me
tell you, even officers in America do desert the army and despite the
tough laws against desertion, people have been deserting. So anybody
deserting is not news,� he said.
Bakasumba
said that desertion is common in every sector, including public
service.
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