The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces – UPDF has involved Women peace groups from the Karamoja sub-region in the ongoing disarmament exercise.
These women groups are involved particularly to persuade their husbands and other warriors in their communities to voluntarily surrender their firerarms.
Brigadier Joseph Balikudembe, the 3rd Division Commander urged the women to be part of the pacification efforts, noting that they would become more vulnerable in case their husbands died in raids or forceful disarmament.
Addressing women peace group leaders from Kaabong and Karenga in a meeting yesterday, Brig. Balikudembe noted that reunion of the region was not only the responsibility of the UPDF and sister security forces but involves all Ugandans.
Karenga Resident District Commissioner, Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka said women and the youth are always the missing links in the disarmament program.
Keren Narem, a member of Mam ngejie peace group from Kaabong district promised to speak to the armed youths and men to handover in their guns voluntarily to benefit from a pardon, however, she urged the UPDF also to use minimal force while conducting their operations, recalling many instances of human rights abuses during the first disarmament.
