Maj. Nicholas Abiribale, the Civil-Military Coordination officer at the Fourth Infantry Division told URN Thursday that the training will involve the firing of live bullets in the areas of Gulu airfield in Bardege-Layibi Division.
LDU soldiers prepares for a range shooting exercise at 4th Infantry Division training school Lugore in Gulu District in March 2019. Photo By Julius Ocungi
The army has advised residents within Gulu City not to panic as Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers
take part in a day-long arms training drill on Friday.
Maj. Nicholas Abiribale, the Civil-Military
Coordination officer at the Fourth Infantry Division told URN on Thursday that the
training will involve the firing of live bullets in the areas of Gulu airfield
in Bardege-Layibi Division.
Maj. Abiribale noted that the
drill would commence at 6 am till 6 pm and asked residents to keep out of the
area for their safety. He also asked the locals not to leave their animals to
roam around the areas.
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He noted that the exercise is a
routine activity undertaken to keep the soldiers alert.
According to Maj Abiribale, the exercise
will entail the firing of light and heavy weapons that may cause some members
of the public to panic.
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It is unclear how many soldiers will
take part in the exercise, Uganda Radio Network however reliably understands
that soldiers ranging from privates to the highest-ranking officers including the
Division Commander will take part.
But Bardege-Layibi Division Mayor
Patrick Oola Lumumba notes that whereas the army has issued the public
announcement, it hasn’t liaised with the local area leaders for sensitization
of the masses.
“We are surprised that the army hasn’t
informed the local leaders to sensitize the locals about the exercise yet the
shooting site is within a civilian population. This may turn out disastrous for
others without prior knowledge and worst of all, some may collapse,” Lumumba
told URN on Thursday.
He however requested the army to
conduct sensitization so that locals are not caught unaware leading to
incidences of injuries or even death.
