Saturday, January 15, 2011

ARMY DEPLOYING FOR FEBRUARY ELECTIONS.

ARMY DEPLOYING FOR FEBRUARY ELECTIONS.

Last week, UPDF Chief of Defence Forces General Aronda Nyakairma issued army guide lines instructing all commanders to stay away from partisan politics and to lay strategies to prevent any occurrence that might injure the electoral process. Meanwhile, Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo has kept on saying the army is deploying in various locations of the country particularly in northern Uganda with the intention of influencing voters.
However, Kyanjo`s allegations haven`t been received well by the army. “He should not say things that are going to push us into action. The army is going to play it`s role and that is to ensure security” said the UPDF mouthpiece Lt Col Felix Kulaije when contacted on phone. “I think Honorable Kyanjo is misinformed, the military is free to deploy anywhere in any part of the country where we sense the matter is heavy to be handled by police alone. He (kyanjo) is uninformed, the military is free to deploy. Are soldiers campaigning?” he asked.
This comes at a time when some member of parliament like Hussein Kyanjo are still unsure of the role of the army in the February elections sighting that it might be partisan. “People think that by voting the army is participating in partisan politics. Yes the army is one of the strongest pillars of the state but that doesn`t mean we do not have our right to vote” said Lt Col Felix Kulaije, confirming Lt Gen Jeje Odongo`s words when he urged the army not to be intimidated during this season when he was passing out the 517 UPDF officers at Gaddafi junior staff college in Jinja.

GAS CYLINDER KILLS ONE, INJURES THREE

By Brian Ssenoga Kimuli
Shock engulfed residents of Namirembe yesterday when a gas cylinder exploded and left one dead and three seriously injured. The incident occurred in Bwanika zone at SSekabira and sons motor garage along Namirembe road at midday.
This left one Moses Ssebunya dead and three of his colleagues Kaye Fred and another only identified as kasozi and the third unidentified with severe injuries. All the victims of the explosion were mechanics at the garage.
According to the O.C CID old Kampala police Bakaleke Siraje, the cause of the explosion had not yet been established by the time journalists got on the scene. “However, we are still working with the bomb squad to establish the cause of the incident. And later a report will be made” he said. The injured three were rushed to Mengo hospital.