28.06.2010

By Staff Writer

Last week, Mr John Patrick Wambi wrote the first of a two part opinion piece in which he warned of the inherent dangers involved in the government’s current wave of creating tribal militias.  His opinion article had been inspired by an old news story which announced that the UPDF had trained a militia force from among Banyala youth in Kayunga, eastern Uganda.  According James Rwebikire, the spokesperson of Ssabanyala’s Chiefdom, “…the training was one of the kingdom’s preparations for the 2011 general elections”. 

In that same story, the Army and Defence Spokesperson Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye had played down the significance of the Banyala militia training, arguing that “…the army usually provides instructors to any community that requests for its services during political education courses”.  In other words, Kulayigye wanted Ugandans to believe that there was nothing unusual about the UPDF training tribal militias.    

With the exception of two, twenty five Ugandans who contacted the Uganda Correspondent after it ran that article have, like Mr. Wambi, however reacted angrily to the government’s creation of tribal militias.  Baptist Katende Sentamu, a resident of Ndeba in the outskirts of Kampala, for example, described the creation of tribal militias as “very, very dangerous and may have grave implications for public order and the general stability of our country”. 

Patricia Akugizibwe simply threatened to change her name for fear of reprisal attacks when Museveni’s is finally ousted.  “I am seriously considering changing my surname for my own safety.  Tribal militias are a wrong idea.  It might cause some of us innocent Westerners trouble for nothing when Museveni goes”, she said. 

There were however a few who saw merit in the government’s militia training programme; although, unlike Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye, for a totally different reason.  This latter group seem to think that tribal militias are good for self defence.  A one Moses Okalebo Ojakol writing from Soroti said, “I support the tribal militias because the government soldiers cannot protect all of us.  Here in Teso, if it wasn’t for the Arrow Boys, the LRA would have caused us serious trouble”.  

Read the second and final part of John Patrick Wambi’s article in the “Opinions” drop down link today and send us your views using the comments facility below.  Alternatively, if you have a long reaction, then send it to opinions@ugandacorrespondent.com [Editor]