Don’t condemn LDUs for early mistakes, says UPDF
Inspection. Brig Kayanja Muhanga (right), the 2nd Division commander, instructs some of the LDUs at Kaveera Army Barracks Training School on Friday. Photo by Enid Ninsiima
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Ms Sarah Kajingo, the President of PRAU, said: “We have seen them (UPDF) rendering their hand voluntarily on many occasions.
Kampala. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, has said the newly passed out Local Defence Unit ( LDU) personnel should not be condemned for the violent arrests they recently carried out in Kampala because they are still new on the job and should be given time to learn.
“LDUs are our reserve force which will help us curb crime in and around Kampala metropolitan area. They have so far committed some mistakes but do not blame them. We are trying to inaugurate them into the field and they are getting support from the UPDF. Soon they will be able to handle people with discipline,” Brig Karemire said.
He made the remarks on Saturday at Kawempe General Referral Hospital where UPDF partnered with the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) to conduct a joint cleaning exercise as an effort to promote volunteering in the country’s corporate culture.
At the event, Brig Karemire formally ushered the LDUs into the civil military activities as one of the ways of drawing them into communities they are serving.
In their recent maiden deployment at Luzira prison to block people from accessing the prison when Kyaddondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine’s, application came up for hearing, the LDUs were captured on video roughing up and arresting people. Photos and video clips of the LDU brutality were shared on social media and it sparked public outrage.
Ms Sarah Kajingo, the President of PRAU, said: “We have seen them (UPDF) rendering their hand voluntarily on many occasions. We are happy to have worked with them today and we are sure they will continue to join in whenever we call on them,” Ms Kajingo said.
Backround to LDUS
In March this year, President Museveni passed out 6,000 LDU recruits, who had completed a four-month military training course at Kaweweta Army School in Nakaseke District.
The President said they will reinforce the army and police to ensure security following the rising wave of murder and kidnap cases in the Kampala and the city’s metropolitan area.
