The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has hailed the government of the United States of America for supporting the disarmament exercise in Karamoja through infrastructure development and livelihood promotion activities.
The UPDF 3rd division spokesman, Captain Deo Akiiki says the US government has invested in several infrastructure projects and helped fund community based activities aimed at improving the lives of the Karimojong.
He said this after a three day visit to Karamoja of a high level delegation of US diplomats and military officials who were in the area to do an on-sport assessment of the situation in Karamoja.
Lt Col Rugumayo briefs US team during their visit to Karamoja
The team included the US deputy ambassador to Uganda Her Excellency Virginia Blaser, the head of US military Civil Affairs Col Eric Schoenbucher based at the US Africa Command in Jidbout, the Defence attache’ at the US embassy in Uganda Lt Col Louis Perozo and Michael Ronning from USAID (United States Agency for International Development) among others.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, the US government through its international organizations like USAID and other partners like Mercycoups and IRC (International Rescue Committee) has been funding a number of projects in Karamoja related to livelihood support.
The US army through its Civil Affairs Team in partnership with the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has also been involved in several projects like the construction of Muruita Dam in Nakapiripirit which was jointly done by UPDF, US military engeneers, ministry of water with funding from UNDP, as well as the Kraals at Nadunget in Moroto where a veterinary Civial Affairs program was affected and 40,000 animals vaccinated.
The statement says the US military and UPDF are jointly planning to construct a state of the art Dam at Lupeei in Moroto district. The US team visited the site and promised to bring in the Seabees (US military Navy Engineers) to begin work immediately the 2011 general elections are concluded. Ambassador Virginia says the construction will take three months.
The UPDF and the US army will also carry out veterinary services in Kotido district, training of Capacity building of UPDF in civil affairs, fencing of Kotido senior secondary School together with UPDF Engineers and offering free medical services to all forces working in Karamoja.