"President Museveni promised to provide whatever it takes, including guns, to see that the Amukas do a good job just like the Arrow Boys have done [in Teso]," Ankunda told The Monitor in an interview.
Mr. Koffi Annan... there in lies your problem... the NRM Bastard , yoweri Kaguta Museveni , is at it again.
Matek
Lango MPs Ask for Guns
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The Monitor (Kampala)
November 28, 2003
Posted to the web November 28, 2003
Frank Nyakairu
Kampala
Lango MPs want more guns for the militia fighting rebels in Lira and Apac districts.
The 2,000-strong Amuka Group, which is fighting rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army in Lango, has only 800 rifles.
"Imagine 2,000 people being given only 800 guns to fight! We appeal to government to give us more guns to counter the bigger threat the rebels pose now," the vice chairman of the Lango Parliamentary Group, Mr Omara Atubo, said yesterday by phone.
"As a result, many [fighters] have abandoned [the war] because they will definitely not fight with their bare hands," Atubo said.
The northern region army spokesman, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, said President Museveni would soon give guns to the Amuka Group.
"President Museveni promised to provide whatever it takes, including guns, to see that the Amukas do a good job just like the Arrow Boys have done [in Teso]," Ankunda told The Monitor in an interview.
The Arrow Group is another pro-government militia force fighting rebels in Teso region.
The MPs' appeal comes days after the suspected rebels dropped a letter threatening mass killings in Lango region.
The Missionary News Agency quotes the Minister of State for Youth and Children's Affairs, Mr Okot Ogong, as saying that the rebel threat might be real.
The army also said it was ready to counter the rebel scare.
Meanwhile, the army said yesterday that it had rescued 40 children formerly abducted by the LRA.
"Units from the 503 Brigade rescued them yesterday [Wednesday] in areas of Aswa ranch and Palabek," Ankunda said on Thursday.
The LRA has fought the Movement government since 1988.
