By Zalimon Basighalha (Goodluck)
The community in Kasese district has been applauded for a positive response towards the government’s initiative of deploying the Uganda People’s Defense Forces –UPDF soldiers in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, who also doubles as the NRM National Vice Chairperson in charge of Western region, says he is happy that the people of Kasese who are the immediate neighbors have embraced the idea.
Last week, the UPDF crossed into the DRC to fight the Allied Democratic Forces- ADF rebels in North Kivu province who have been terrorizing both countries.
Last month, Uganda experienced bomb blasts and the government blamed them on the militant Islamist rebel group called the ADF, which was founded in Uganda but later was forced into the DR Congo, a reason to why Uganda has deployed her forces to combat them.
Though the move has left the Parliament of Uganda to seek an explanation from the government on how the Army entered another country without their consent, the people of Kasese are in favour of the initiative.
Constitutionally, Article 210(d) of the 1995 Constitution states that Parliament shall make laws regulating the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and, in particular, providing for the deployment of troops outside
At the climax of a two-day retreat for the NRM party members in Bukonzo County West held at Bwera Secondary School where Dr. Chris Baryomunsi was the Chief Guest, he commended the people of Kasese district for supporting the government’s move.
He further thanked the local residents in the district for their support that they gave to the UPDF during the 1996 war.
Dr. Baryomunsi called upon the residents especially those living along the borderline to always report suspicious individuals in their respective areas to the security agencies.
The Minister was last week in the district for a two-day official visit to mobilize for the NRM party as well as receiving more than 250 people from the opposition political parties who defected to the ruling NRM party.
He pledged to lobby for jobs for the party members who fail to make it in the party primary elections and at the end contest as independent candidates in the general elections.
