The UPDF establishment has come out strongly to condemn the sordid actions of its auxiliary force- Local Defence Unit (LDU) in which over 8 civilians have so far been shot dead and many others injured by the errant personnel of LDU during COVID-19 lockdown.
The trigger happy constables responsible for the killings have either been put out of action or charged in the Military Court and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The latest incident which has sparked off fury among members of the public occurred on Tuesday when a patrol squad of LDU personnel on routine duty in Mityana Municipality manhandled the LCV Chairman for Mityana District Joseph Luzige.
His crime remains unknown.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the army publicist Brig. Richard Karemire condemned this incident saying the army had commenced investigations.
“Investigations have also commenced. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Forces has sent a team of senior leaders that include; Maj Gen Sam Kavuma, the Deputy Commander Land Force (D/CLF), Maj Gen Sam Kawaga, 1Div Comdr and Maj Gen Henry Masiko the Chief of Political Commissar (CPC) to Mityana to make an on spot assessment and confer with both the district leaders and the district security committee,” said Mr Karemire.
He highlighted examples where the army has moved fast to take action against the errant LDU constables who have either shot and killed or brutalized members of the public.
“We wish to restate that discipline remains a core value and bedrock on which the UPDF was founded. Anyone who deviates from this will always be punished according to the established laws. There are examples to prove this in the recent past like a soldier in Kasese was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment and an LDU personnel was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment all because of unprofessional conduct,” Brig. Karemire added.
Rehabilitation
Karemire admitted that the LDU personnel exhibit very different character from the mainstream UPDF because of many factors which include training, education and training.
“They can’t be like us, the UPDF because we are tested, have gone through thorough training and also we have different education background,” Karemire made a veiled statement explaining why UPDF has maintained discipline unlike LDU.
He said the army has since began retraining and enrolling some of the LDU constables for fresher courses like political science so as they learn how to relate with civilians.
Nevertheless, Karemire says the contribution of LDU in restoration of peace across the country can’t go unmentioned.
He underlined three examples in which the LDU has been very pivotal fighting external and internal aggression in the country.
The LDU helped UPDF in fighting LRA rebels, disarmament in Karamoja and also combating criminality in Kampala.
“The UPDF wishes to reiterate its full commitment and loyalty to the people of Uganda and will always remain subordinate to the civilian authority as provided for under Article 208 of the Constitution.
There is no need to lose heart over these incidents. A comprehensive review of these deployments to enforce anti-COVID 19 measures is soon to take place and we expect better results,” Karemire concluded.