Matek
Army Appeals for More Funds
Print This Page
Visit�The�Publisher's�Site
New Vision (Kampala)March 5, 2004
Posted to the web March 5, 2004
Milton Olupot
Kampala
THE Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) has appealed to Parliament to increase the budget allocation to the army, to boost to end the 18-year old LRA war that has ravaged north and eastern Uganda.A team of MPs led by the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi (right), on February 27 and 28 visited the desolate region where they toured Internally Displaced People's camps and the jam-packed hospitals, and met the UPDF command and local leaders.
In a statement to the Speaker, the 4th Division commander, Col. Nathan Mugisha, challenged Parliament to consider, in consultation with the executive, more budgetary allocation to help the army effectively secure civilians against attacks by LRA.
He said there was a need to develop the capacity to fix the enemy within the appropriate time, due to their elusive character.He said more radio-calls were required for inter forces communication at least to platoon level.
The army expressed need for additional helicopters to enhance the helicopter lift capacity and air support to ground troops."There is also urgent need to address transport means. The fleet of vehicles in use are inadequate and not properly maintained due to poor facilitation.
"The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the state."
- Dr. Joseph M. Goebbels - Hitler's propaganda minister
