October 7, 2007: Uganda's
Buganda tribal region (basically central Uganda, an area sometimes called
Baganda) is once again talking about forming its own country. Every so often
Uganda's regions talk of secession. The
Buganda claim that the government has taken Bugandan land without just
compensation. They also claim that the government has favored other parts of Uganda
in terms of investment. The Buganda have a king who actually has a large
compound outside of Kampala, and some Buganda assert that the government has
the long-term aim of weakening the King's traditional power. There are
approximately six million Buganda, and their complaints cannot be ignored.
October 4, 2007: The army has
increased its troop strength along the Kenyan and south Sudanese borders. The
new troop deployment is part of an agreement with the Karamojong tribe to
protect the region from cattle rustlers operating from Kenya and Sudan.
September 29, 2007: Violence
in the Karamoka region has diminished. The army believes the drop is due in large part to the
disarmament program. The government has also been encouraging the Karamojong
tribe to become farmers. The Karamojong are traditionally pastoralists (cattle
raisers). They also operate as cattle rustlers. Rustling, unfortunately, often
morphs into smuggling and other banditry.
September 19, 2007: The Lord's
Resistance Army (LRA) believes plans for a joint Congo-Uganda attack on LRA
bases in the Congo would be treated as "a declaration of war." The LRA will
withdraw from the current peace process and "bring war back to Uganda" if
Congolese and Ugandan forces attacked their base in Garamba National Park
(northeast Congo).
September 18, 2007: Uganda and
Rwanda traded accusations about the People's Redemption Army (PRA). Uganda
claims that the rebel organization is supplied and supported by Rwanda. Rwanda
rejects the accusation. Uganda claims Rwanda agreed to end support of the PRA
in 2003.
