President Museveni has said Uganda’s borders remain secure, save for the spill-over effects occasioned by activities of negative armed groups in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
“I wish to assure Ugandans and investors that Uganda is a secure and peaceful country,” he said Wednesday while addressing parliament at Kololo Independence Grounds.
According to him, the recent isolated incidents of misuse of firearms and killing of innocent people are being handled with immediate response.
These include, among others, strengthening the capacity of security agencies to address emerging security threats; addressing discipline issues of security personnel in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police and Uganda Prisons Services; enhancing the security infrastructure to detect crime before it happens; and addressing the welfare of personnel in security uniforms.
“The ability to manage a huge, pre-announced event like the recent Martyrs Day without any insecurity incident while terrorists are still running around in neighbouring countries such as Congo, Somalia, etc., demands salutations for our security personnel, weaknesses, here and there, notwithstanding.”
Anti-livestock Theft and Disarmament Operations in Karamoja
The president said the government has enhanced troop levels and combat capabilities in Karamoja to combat cattle theft and that disarmament operations code name- “Operation Usalama Kwa Wote” remain on course.
He said a total of 125 guns with 1,323 rounds of ammunition have been recovered since January 2023. Similarly, an estimated 4,771 stolen livestock were recovered and handed over to the rightful owners.
“At a bilateral level, Uganda and Kenya entered a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Defence and Security, which was signed in April 2022. The agreement provides for concurrent disarmament operations in both countries,” Museveni noted, adding:
“There have been mistakes and some corruption in the disarmament in Karamoja. I am now in direct touch with the Raiders. Some have already come out and others seem to be ready to come out. The corrupt elements in the Army that stole the money of the vigilantes will be punished and so will all the corrupt who have undermined the total peace we had achieved in Karamoja between 2007 and 2018.”
“The Turkana of Kenya must stop entering Uganda with guns and I do not want to hear of even one incident of those people again raiding in Uganda if they want to stay here. All the points put forward in the recent Executive Order must be fulfilled. The leaders of the Pokot, in Uganda, also need to completely discipline their people. The practice of stealing cattle, from the other clans of Uganda and hiding it with their tribemates, in Kenya, must stop completely.”
Operation Shujaa in DRC
Museveni said since the launch of the Joint FARDC-UPDF Operation, code-named “Operation Shujaa” in November 2021, a total of 109 SMGs, 05 PKMs, and 03 RPGs, have been recovered; 508 ADF combatants have been put out of action; 50 captured alive, 90 abductees rescued and 20 defectors received.
In March 2023, UPDF put out of action 29 ADF rebels in Ntoroko district and recovered 9 SMGs. They had invaded Uganda from Congo.
The East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Conclave held in April 2022, resolved to establish and deploy the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), to pacify Eastern DRC.
Uganda has contributed a Battle Group to the Regional Force.
“The recent deployment of the EACRF, augmented by diplomatic efforts from the Regional States, will address the security challenges posed by the instabilities in Eastern DRC,” Museveni said.