Nakawa mayor warns against arming LDUs

Muhamad Matovu

The Mayor of Nakawa Division Balimwezo Ronald Nsubuga has cautioned government against arming Local Defence Units (LDUS) noting that they still need more training and experience before they are entrusted with the guns.

He made the remarks during the recruitment of LDUS for Nakawa Division on Friday.

"These people need more training and experience, it's too early for the government to entrust them guns,"he said.

He noted that members of the community have several times been complaining about the mistreatment and deployment of the LDUS.

He asked government to arm them with batons as they get experience and more training.

He urged government to consider the welfare of these LDUS through giving them fair pay that can sustain them and their families

"The little money given to the unit is not enough to sustain them and their families,"he said

“we pray that they increase in the numbers and also increase their welfare .Their welfare is too bad ,you cannot give 180 thousand shillings to a person who on a daily basis is outside keeping security ,keeping the property of the people ,that’s too little ,they should be given good allowances ,perhaps should have their children go to school, “he noted.

The in charge of LDU recruitment in Kampala metropolitan area Abachu Felix highlighted some of the challenges faced in the recruitment exercise such as high turn up and resurfacing of some people from different divisions after rejection.

He however refuted claims of the misuse of guns by newly deployed LDUS.

“Since we deployed LDUS there is full control and command so the misuse of weapon has never risen at all. They are under our command," he noted.

The RCC of Nakawa Division Balore Herbert Anderson noted that the training is militant and geared to protect people and their properties and addressing any case.

He also refuted claims regarding the act of mistreatment by deployed LDUS as baseless noting that they have not register any complain from the community.

“They are almost watchmen of everything, they are supposed to protect property and lives of the people and any threat related to property and life these people can handle. They are trained to be militant so they can handle any situation that is not sophisticated," he said.