The Uganda People’s Defense Forces –UPDF has shifted its School Of Field Artillery from Masindi district to Olilim training grounds in Katakwi district.
Captain Deo Akiiki, the 3rd Division Army Spokesperson told Uganda Radio Network on Monday that the army will expand the Olilim training ground, which was mainly being used for training the auxiliary forces, into a bigger army training institution.
He said trainees on field artillery who were previously being trained in Masindi have already been shifted to Olilim adding that the institution will be commissioned later this week.
He, however, warned that during the training, heavy artillery pieces will be fired and that loud explosions are expected to be heard in some areas of Napak and Katakwi districts.
He specifically warned those near Napak Hills in Napak district, Olilim general areas and Ngariam in Katakwi district not to panic when some target areas are hit.
He said Singe hill at the boundary of Olilim and Lotome will be a target point and advised the public not to do any activity around it as consistent bombings will be hitting this point.
Akiiki said the UPDF will continue visiting these areas and put up other preventive measures to avoid any possibility of accidents.
Jimmy Lomokol, a resident of Lotome near Singe hill, welcomes the development in the area. Lomokol says this will not only boost trade in the area but will guarantee security on top of economic benefits they will get from the institution.
He says the area has been a corridor for the Bokora, Pian and Jie cattle rustlers from Napak, Nakapiripirit and Kotido districts, who have been using the area to infiltrate Teso sub region.
Lomokol also said Singe hill had become a hideout for the criminal characters in Karamoja and that the presence of the artillery training school would force them out.
