The Arrow Boys Militia is being voluntarily disarmed by security agencies in the Teso sub-region.
The Soroti Resident District Commissioner, Omax Omeda, says a joint security taskforce has been established under the UPDF Third Division Reserve Commander, Colonel John Arocha, to disarm inactive members of the Arrow Boys Militia. Also to be disarmed are Members of Parliament and local council officials who received guns for protection against the Lord's Resistance Army invasion of the Teso sub-region three years ago.
Omeda says several members of the Arrow Boys in Soroti, Katakwi, Amuria, Kaberamaido and Kumi have begun voluntarily handing in their guns at sub-county headquarters and at police posts. He clarifies that Arrow Boys based at detaches in Katakwi and Amuria will not be affected by the disarmament exercise.
Government armed more than 7000 Arrow Boys in 2003 to help stop the invasion of the LRA rebels in Teso. About 2000 were last year assimilated into the UPDF reserve force, while others are being integrated into the Uganda Police Force.
