News reaching our desk indicates that the Local Defence Forces have been reinstated to active operations. This reinstatement was announced today, the 11th Day of August, 2020 pursuant to a letter from the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs as signed by Brig Gen. Flavia Byekwaso – the Defence Spokesperson. In her letter, the Defence Spokesperson alleged that owing to the withdrawal of Local Defence Forces from active operations to go back for refresher training, the level of criminality has increased especially during the night which prompted the public to petition for their reinstatement.
In this letter, the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs reassured the public that the forces had undergone a refresher training and was ready to assist the Police in the enforcement of COVID-19 directives but only at night and not during the day. The same forces are now also obligated to participate in intelligence led limited operations on specific targets on request and in support of the Uganda Police Force.
This comes after the recall of these forces from full operation by the UPDF on 16th July, 2020 as announced by Major Bilal Katamba the Spokesperson of UPDF 1st Division. Prior to this, a series of complaints about gross human rights abuses orchestrated by the LDU’s had been lodged before Parliament and UPDF ranging from Killing Citizens to sexual assault.
With their return to action, the public and various the Civil Society await to see what kinds of fruits the Force’s refresher course shall reap.
