Uganda Back To Normal After Brief Mutiny

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30348, 25 January 1964, Page 15

Uganda Back To Normal After Brief Mutiny

(N.ZJ’.A.-Reuter —Copyright) KAMPALA, January' 24. Business as usual was ordered today by the Uganda Prime Minister (Mr Milton Obote) after “some misbehaviour” by Uganda troops at the Jinja barracks had caused him to request British troops from neighbouring Kenya to assure order.

Mr Obote, in a statement in Kampala, said the British troops flown to Uganda last night should not be needed for long.

The Prime Minister said the situation was normal at Jinja, 50 miles east of Kampala, where about 350 men of the Uganda Rifles, demanding pay rises, were earlier reported to have held the Interior Minister (Mr Felix Onama) prisoner for about an hour on his arrival there yesterday. The Prime Minister said the whole Army was back in barracks and all troops were loyal to the Government. He denied reports of a mutiny on the lines of that which shook Tanganyika four days ago. Mr Obote said the incident at Jinja occurred as Mr Onama arrived at the camp to discuss terms of service with the troops at their request. Later Mr Onama told them terms of service were

to be revised. He was on his way to Entebbe, where he would report to the Prime Minister. Mr Obote said Government offices should open today and that businesses and shops should do the same. Tjie situation at Jinja was last night reported to be normal and guards were on duty as usual. No Violence Witnesses said tihe demonstrators at Jinja had demanded to see Mr Onama. No violence had occurred; but the men were "very excited,” an officer said. The demonstrators were later joined by other men but some other troops, including members of two rifle companies in the banracks, refused to join them. One report said the soldiers took Mr Onama into the guardroom and told him he must sign an agreement that soldiers’ pay must be almost doubled to 300 s. He was later released and walked with about 100 soldiers through the barracks before joining officers in their mess.

s It was reported that Mr ! Onama promised to present a : supplementary estimate for the Army’s new rates of pay. f In Nairobi, General I. H. 1 Freeland said last night that ! the British troops had landed at Entebbe. Their task was to ' secure Entebbe airport and ‘ “certain other important installations.” Reports from Jinja last night said families of British ■ officers and non-commis-sioned officers continued 1 packing their bags in spite ! of a reported statement by 1 spokesmen of the soldiers that their quarrel was not ! with European officers. The ■ reports said Britons were > later allowed “to leave the ' camp following the Interior Minister’s departure.”

Amnesty For Rebels (N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) DJAKARTA, Jan. 24. President Soekarno today announced an amnesty for “Republic of the South Moluccas” separationist rebels who surrendered by the end of the month. Those who gave themselves up would have to swear allegiance to himself, the State and the national political manifesto, he said. Troops recently captured the rebel leader, Dr. Soutnokil, his family and two of his top aides in a series of operations on the island of Ceram.