Uganda: Rebels and Rustlers Remain in Rural Areas

Archives

October 7, 2007: Uganda's Buganda tribal region (basically central Uganda, an area sometimes called Baganda) is once again talking about forming its own country. Every so often Uganda's regions talk of secession. The Buganda claim that the government has taken Bugandan land without just compensation. They also claim that the government has favored other parts of Uganda in terms of investment. The Buganda have a king who actually has a large compound outside of Kampala, and some Buganda assert that the government has the long-term aim of weakening the King's traditional power. There are approximately six million Buganda, and their complaints cannot be ignored.

October 4, 2007: The army has increased its troop strength along the Kenyan and south Sudanese borders. The new troop deployment is part of an agreement with the Karamojong tribe to protect the region from cattle rustlers operating from Kenya and Sudan.

September 29, 2007: Violence in the Karamoka region has diminished. The army believes the drop is due in large part to the disarmament program. The government has also been encouraging the Karamojong tribe to become farmers. The Karamojong are traditionally pastoralists (cattle raisers). They also operate as cattle rustlers. Rustling, unfortunately, often morphs into smuggling and other banditry.

September 19, 2007: The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) believes plans for a joint Congo-Uganda attack on LRA bases in the Congo would be treated as "a declaration of war." The LRA will withdraw from the current peace process and "bring war back to Uganda" if Congolese and Ugandan forces attacked their base in Garamba National Park (northeast Congo).

September 18, 2007: Uganda and Rwanda traded accusations about the People's Redemption Army (PRA). Uganda claims that the rebel organization is supplied and supported by Rwanda. Rwanda rejects the accusation. Uganda claims Rwanda agreed to end support of the PRA in 2003.