Maj. Gen. Don William Nabasa, 3rd Division Commander of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has urged youth in the Karamoja and Teso subregions to reject criminality and embrace peace efforts.
At a peace meeting held at the Leslona Hotel in Moroto Municipality, the Division Commander and several senior officials met with youth leaders and councillors from around the Karamoja Subregion and Kapelebyong District.
“I urge you to use your trusted network and structures to talk to fellow youths and Karachunas involved in cattle thefts to desist from the vice. We encourage voluntary surrender of guns,” Maj. Gen. Nabasa said.
He explained that under the operational guidelines, anyone who voluntarily surrenders a gun will not be prosecuted but will be registered as a potential beneficiary of government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other related incentives from ministries, departments, departments and agencies (MDAs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Maj. Gen. Nabasa added that Karamoja is blessed with natural resources that may be completely utilised to change it, but this can only be accomplished if crime is eradicated in order to totally restore security and peace.
He committed to increase force deployments in vital areas to limit the transfer of criminal elements to Teso, Sebei, sections of Lango, and Acholi subregions.
Maj. Gen. Nabasa reiterated that the disarmament effort is intelligence-led and requires deliberate information collecting, which should be gained by human good will.
During the peace meeting, Hon. Akorikin Francis, Chairperson of Local Council IV for Kapelebyong, praised the youth leaders for their attendance and urged them to spread messages of optimism and prosperity throughout the subregions.