The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Napak, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is heavy deployment of army and police anti stock theft unit along the border corridor between Nabilatuk and Napak district.
The deployment follows a suspected revenge attack by Pian pastoralists against their Bokora counterparts from Napak district who are accused of killing Mariko Abura Apanaluk, one of the most prominent elders in Karamoja region. Mariko, 67, who was stoned to death on Saturday left 54 wives, 187 children, 116 grandchildren and over 2,000 heads of cattle.
He was killed together with one of his sons and one Local Defence Unit soldier who had accompanied him to Lorengechora army detach to report the raiding of 28 heads of cattle from his kraal in duol village in the newly created Nabwal sub-county in Napak district.
However, on his way back to Nabwal, he stopped around Lorengechora town council to greet his friends. But the youths mobilised to attack him thinking he was one of the cattle rustlers from Nabilatuk district who was doing a survey for more animals.
“There was no way to rescue him from the mob because people were many since it was a market day and they thought he was from Nabilatuk,” said Betty Nake one of the residents of Lorengechora.
Jimmy Lomokol, one of the residents of Lorengechora and the chairman of Karamoja private sector described the incident as a shock saying the deceased had been a role model, teaching young pastoralists on how to keep livestock in a traditional way. He fears that the death could spark more conflicts between the pain community of Nabilatuk and the Bokora of Napak.
After his burial on Sunday, a group of youth from Nabilatuk sent a message to Bokora pastoralists on how they are preparing to pay back the death of the elder.
This prompted the army and police to deploy heavily in the areas of Nabwal, Nakayot which borders Napak and Nabilatuk districts. Michael Longole, the Karamoja Regional Police Spokesperson confirmed the joint deployment saying it’s meant to avert any possible revenge.
“Yes we have deployed around those places to stop any attack in case the Pian from Nabilatuk want to go and revenge in Napak,” he said. He added that the police are still investigating and hunting for the ring leaders of the attack.
Major Peter Mugisa, the UPDF 3rd division spokesperson also confirmed the joint deployment on the border of Nabilatuk and Napak saying the soldiers are patrolling the corridor day and night. He said the army has already established detaches around the corridors.
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