The Monitor (Kampala)
15 January 2008
By David Mafabi
Security chiefs from the governments of Uganda and South Sudan have started discussions to end the long persistent arms trafficking in the region.
According to the UPDF, the strategy is aimed at reducing gun flow in to Karamoja region and to ensure that the UPDF disarmament exercise achieves the 100 per cent result for peace in Karamoja.
The UPDF and local leaders in Karamoja region have on several occasions hinted that the greatest undoing to the disarmament exercise in the area has been the free in flow of guns from Sudan through Kitgum to the area.
Sources in the UPDF said the move is to ensure that armed cattle rustling is stopped to create peace in Karamoja region, and also with her neighbours in Uganda and western parts of Kenya.
A meeting held last Tuesday at Kidepo in Kotido, sought among other things to boost co-operation with the government of South Sudan to end the arms trafficking.
The State Minister for Defence, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, said the commissioner in charge of rehabilitation and reconstruction, Dr Mayo Nailo and other commissioners in the Southern Sudan government met Chief of Defence Forces, Maj. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, and State Minister for Karamoja, Mr Aston Kajara and other security chiefs.
Ms Nankabirwa said the meeting resolved to, besides monitoring the major routes for arms trafficking, lay strategies to involve local leadership in the struggle to end arms trafficking in the East African cattle corridor.
"The meeting dealt greatly on bringing to an end arms trafficking in the region and we have resolved to co-operate in monitoring to ensure that illegal arms don't cross the boarders of another country," Ms Nankabirwa said.
She said the bringing of Sudan on board in the struggle to end arms trafficking in Karamoja region is the greatest achievement because Sudan has been the source of most arms in Karamoja region and neighbouring districts.
The two countries also agreed to construct three major roads from Karamoja through northern Uganda to provide good communication for monitoring arms trafficking.
The Monitor via [sudan.net]
