Uganda beefs up security at refugee settlements over alleged rebel recruitments

KAMPALA, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military on Wednesday said it has beefed up security at the refugee settlements hosting over one million displaced South Sudanese over reports of rebel recruitments.

Brig. Richard Karemire, Ugandan military spokesperson told Xinhua in an interview that security had been beefed up because of some elements in Sudan People's Liberation Army In the Opposition (SPLA-IO) trying to recruit rebels to fight the South Sudan government.

"This is by all means an illegal activity and the security forces have taken appropriate action. Uganda is not a ground for any illegal activities that are likely to destabilize a brotherly neighborhood country," he said.

The military spokesperson warned the SPLA-IO, led by former vice President Riek Machar exiled in South Africa against attempting to recruit the refugees hosted to join their ranks.

"We always encourage a peaceful resolution of the conflict in South Sudan and that is why our leader and president [Yoweri Museveni] has been instrumental in trying to ensure there is peace working within the framework of IGAD [The Intergovernmental Authority on Development] and African Union and supported by our international partners," said Karemire.

Ugandan security forces last month arrested Col. John Data alias Tom Chadiga in the northwestern district of Koboko for trying to illegally recruit South Sudan refugees and Ugandan youths to join the rebellion.

Data who is still under Police Force detention for further investigations is expected to be produced in court for prosecution.

Local media here report that many Ugandan youths and South Sudan refugees are secretly being wooed and recruited to fight alongside the opposition fighters to oust President Salva Kiir.

Uganda is host to more than one million South Sudan refugees. The influx of the refugees was sparked off by fighting in 2013 between troops loyal to Kiir and those supporting Machar. Enditem