Maj Gen Nakibus Lakara (R) hands a map of Moroto Army Barracks to incoming 3rd Division commander, Brig Dickson Olum, over the weekend.
Moroto. Difficulty in accessing clean water is affecting smooth military operations along the Uganda-Kenya border.
This was one of the challenges presented by the
outgoing UPDF 3rd Division Commander, Maj Gen James Nakibus Lakara,
while handing over the office to the new division commander, Brig
Dickson Olum, in Moroto Army Barracks at the weekend.
Maj Gen Lakara said accessing water in areas such
as Lopelipel and Lokwameri, corridors that criminals use to ferry guns
from South Sudan and Kenya to Karamoja, is difficult.
“We have deployed soldiers in these dangerous
corridors but the challenge we are facing in those areas right now is
poor access to water,” he said.
According to Gen Lakara, who is set to take up
responsibility of the deputy commander of Africa Union Mission in
Somalia, there are no clean water sources in the areas.
He added that the only available source of water
is the seasonal rivers which is shared with animals, putting soldiers at
risk of contracting waterborne diseases.
He added that land grabbing, encroachment on army
land and internal border disputes in Karamoja was threatening the
achieved peace. He asked his successor Brig Olum to handle the issues.
Brig Olum said: “I am ready to work to add on what
Maj Gen Lakara Nakibus has left and I appeal for the cooperation of
unit commanders.”
Maj Gen David Muhoozi, the commander of Land
Forces, who was presiding over the handover ceremony, called upon
soldiers to be alert to prevent attacks by Somalia-based al-Shabaab
militants.
“Commanders, I want you to be awake all the time
because you’re in a porous border that might be used by al-Shabaab to
enter into the country,” he said.(NMG)
EmoticonEmoticon