UGANDA: Where are Museveni's reservists?

WHERE ARE MUSEVENI'S RESERVISTS?

Article 17 (2) of the 1995 Constitution requires every able-bodied citizen of Uganda to undergo compulsory military training and to turn up for military service whenever the need arises. Instead, the regime has been selectively exploiting this article by taking potential candidates for political indoctrination (Mchakamchaka) drills.

The UPDF Act (2005) S.6 creates a Reserve Force comprised of personnel seconded from regular forces, retired officers and discharged militants, auxiliary forces, state security organisations (ISO and ESO) and such other citizens of Uganda having undergone military training under Article 17 (2) of the Constitution. S.6(3) requires any members of the above mentioned categories as potential candidates to be called upon for service.

The Police Act (1994) Cap 303 S.6 creates a Police Reserve consisting of officers who have clocked the retirement age, those whose contract with the police has expired, and those who having terminated their contract with the police and have offered to serve on the Reserve.

Defending the creation of election violence militias dubbed Crime Preventers, on February 2, 2016 during a press conference, Museveni argued that;
"In all modern countries, there is an Army and Police Reserve. Crime Preventers are a Police Reserve. They do not have any political affiliation. Anyone who wants to become a Crime Preventer should join."

A year later, while commenting on a rage of murders in the greater Kampala region, during Labour Day celebrations in Palisa, Museveni disclosed how he was recalling his reservists to bolster security.
He said;
"Using improved technical means (e.g. cameras in towns) and, if necessary, the mobilization of our massive reserves, we shall destroy anybody involved either directly or indirectly. I have already ordered the security on how, if necessary, this can be done cost-effectively.”
No so called reservists were recalled.

A year later in March 2018 he disbanded the Crime Preventers because he perceived it to be loyal to his former police chief, Gen. Kalelyezi whom he accuses of harboring presidential ambitions. Addressing the leaders of Crime Preventers he said;
"Why I left you with the police is because you were dealing with the crime but in the end, you belong to the army… I now regard you as a reserve army for UPDF. My idea is to have a small army which is equipped but with a big reserve."
Consequently the army reportedly commenced a countrywide registration of Crime Preventers.

In June 2018 when Hon. Abiriga was assassinated, Museveni disclosed that;
"Security, under the chairmanship of the CDF, yesterday decided to recommend to me the call up of some reserves to deploy wherever criminals may manifest themselves. Remember we have a reserve of 12 million".
He was referring to Crime Preventers whose figure of 12 is outrageously inflated. They were not recalled.

On September 9th, 2018 while giving his State Of Security address flowing the murder of police commander, Mohammad Kirumira he said;
"In the interim as we build urban infrastructure, we are calling up 24,000 LDUs for Kampala and Wakiso area. We are calling up the reserves and they will man the little trading centres. This undertaking will cost government up to Shs 57 billion and in as much as it is costly, what matters is if it restores security. There are 1,000 villages in Kampala. We shall flood all of them with our own guns. We shall see which guns have more effect”.

Last week, the army announced a recruitment program of Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel instead of recalling the reservists. In his message, the army Spokesman said;
“H.E the president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces directed a call up of reserves of support enforcement of law and order in Kampala Metropolitan Area. In fulfillment of this directive, the UPDF announces that the recruitment of the LDUs personnel from the districts of Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso. There are seven requirements for one to be recruited as a member of the LDU.

The requirements include; being a citizen of Uganda and a holder of a National Identity Card, must be healthy and medically fit, Must be aged between 18 and 35 years, must be having formal education of P7 to S4 and preferably with no other formal engagement or employment, letters of recommendations, must be a resident of the area, must have no criminal record. All members of the Security Committees band local leaders in the three districts are required to mobilise people for recruitment."

The target population are fresh civilians who are being exploited owing to their desperate urge to earn a living and are not reservists.

In a twist of events, the Director Operations in the Uganda police force has directed police officers to immediately stop deploying crime preventers. He reminded his men that the command of former crime preventers was placed under UPDF as they constitute part of the reserve force.

“It has been noted that some unit commanders are still deploying them to perform official police duties on a regular basis and others have gone ahead to issue them with uniforms. The deployment of crime preventers is Illegal, irregular, and must be stopped with immediate effect.”

The disbanded Crime Preventers are criminals who act as agents of extortion, theft, and robbery by the police hence why police commanders continue to use them.

As we have repeatedly argued in the past, we strongly contend that Museveni's so called reservists don't exist. To him, all the unemployed youth in the country are his reserve force that he can use and abuse at his convenience. What would constitute legal reservists are groups of individuals that he used, abused and disgracefully discarded and is therefore shy to recall them; many of whom are either not willing to be abused again or can prove to be a menace.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM.