The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The joint security forces in the Karamoja region have recovered 25,783 cows and arrested 11,595 cattle rustlers in one year.
According to security forces, about 42,000 cows were stolen between the month of July 2021.
Michael Longole, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson attributes the success of recoveries to the cordon and search operations that commenced in May which led to the arrest of several suspected cattle raiders.
Longole says most of the cattle rustlers were arrested after the leaders revealed the names of suspected warriors.
He also revealed that about 2,062 raiders are still on remand while 650 were convicted by the army court-martial for illegal possession of firearms.
Longole noted that whereas peace is gradually returning back into the region, the forces are hunting for warriors who fled after realizing that police were pursuing them.
The community praised the move by the security for the peace that is returning saying cattle raids have reduced and they can now sleep without any disturbance at night.
Josephine Nayep, a woman peace activist in Napak district says the livestock raids have left a majority of them poor.
David Loput, a resident of Nadunget sub county in Moroto district revealed that they lost hope after realizing that the rustlers were too daring saying they could conduct their raids during daylight and night with disregard for the heavy presence of security personnel.
Loput says although peace is returning, there are still some isolated cases citing that on Tuesday night, where the warriors attacked a kraal in Nabokat village and raided 150 goats.
He says the security forces should not relax because the warrior’s actions are not predictable as they are still having a mindset of livestock theft for survival.
Early this week, the joint security forces reported that 500 illegal guns and 3,590 rounds of ammunition were recovered from July 2021 to August 2022, and the situation in the region is now calm.
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