Senior political, security, and religious leaders from Karamoja have recommitted to intensifying the fight against corruption and ensuring proper accountability in order to accelerate the transformation agenda of the sub-region.

The leaders swore to fight the vice when Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu, the Senior Presidential Adviser and Head of Teso-Karamoja Governance Monitoring Mechanism, was launching activities in the sub-region at Goli Army Club, Moroto municipality, on August 8, 2024.

Peter Lokeris, the Cabinet Minister for Karamoja Affairs, noted that in order to manage Karamoja, all leaders must work and collaborate effectively.

“I urge you all leaders to collectively work to pacify and transform Karamoja in all aspects,” he said.

The minister commended the previous work done by Lt Gen Elwelu during his tenure as the then Division Commander when he introduced the famous Nabilatuk resolution aimed at bringing sanity to Karamoja.

He urged all stakeholders to join Lt Gen Elwelu in the fight against corruption and ensure transparency and proper accountability.

Referring to a biblical verse from Ezekiel 3:6-9, Lt Gen Elwelu explained that some of the Karamoja issues require divine calling and the intervention of the Amighty Father. The Lt Gen added that, through a collaborative network, he aims to foster a sense of responsibility and promote the watchman approach as opposed to the accuser approach.

“My concept of work is in line with the Kingdom of Heaven, and it resonates with NRA revolutionary methods of work as it stops the disease before it reaches an embarrassment,” Gen Elwelu said.

He added, “I commit myself to supervise everybody paid by the government as I monitor government programs and detect corruption and misuse of resources.”

As Gen Elwelu embarks on executing the new assignment, he urged all stakeholders to observe and stick to the guiding core values of fearing the Almighty, transparency, servanthood, teamwork, proper accountability, and honesty to be able to deliver desired social services to communities and foster transformation for Karamoja and prosperity for Uganda at large.

Maj Gen Don William Nabasa, the Commander of the 3 Infantry Division of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), stated that the general security situation remains relatively calm on account of continued concerted efforts by joint security forces and all stakeholders towards total pacification of the Karamoja sub-region.

Major Martha Asiimwe, the Head of Resident District Commissioners at the Secretariat, accompanied by RDCs in the region, pledged and committed to special allegiance and total support to work with Gen Elwelu and entire teams for the betterment of the people of Karamoja.

She re-echoed that as RDCs execute their duties and constitutional mandate, they are responsible for monitoring and augmenting each other as reflected in the Local Government Act as amended. Maj Asiimwe further noted that as chairpersons of security committees, they monitor, coordinate, and manage crimes, highlighting that particularly in Karamoja, they fight cattle rustling as they employ revolutionary methods of work.

The regional meeting was attended by Florence Nambozo Wamala, the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs; CP Simon Peter Okoshi representing the IGP; Brig Gen Wilberforce Sserunkuma, the Deputy Commander; Deusdedit Tumwesigye, the Director CIO ISO; district officials across Karamoja; religious leaders; and senior officers of security agencies, among others.

By Maj Isaac Oware (Public Information Officer, 3 Division-UPDF)