Suspected cattle rustlers kill LDU in Kaabong

Kaabong, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Suspected Karimojong cattle rustlers have killed a Local Defence Unit-LDU personnel in Kaabong town.

Capt. Edrin Mawanda, the UPDF 3rd Division Spokesperson says that Jimmy Lori was killed on Thursday by unknown rustlers 3 kilometres away from his detach in Kaabong.

“He left the detach going to Kaabong and we were shocked to get information that his body was lying on the road and his gun and three fully loaded magazines keeping 120 bullets were taken, “he said.

According to Capt. Mawanda, they have dispatched a team to track the rustlers.

Mark Losia, one of the residents of Sidok trading centre said the gun culture among the Karimojong community should be addressed.

Meanwhile, the Uganda Peoples Defence Force and Uganda Police Force have also beefed up security in the region as the operation to collect illegal guns from the hands of the rustlers intensifies.

The security personnel have set up patrols along the Kotido-Abim road and Kotido-Kaabong road. Roadblocks have also been erected to stop any transportation of livestock in and out of Karamoja.

Michael Longole, the Karamoja Regional Police Spokesperson says that they have doubled their efforts on the ground as far as recovery of illegal guns is concerned.

Longole said since they launched the second phase of disarmament in July, they have so far recovered 72 guns and 589 rounds of ammunition from the cattle rustlers.

Karamoja region for the last two years has faced the challenge of cattle rustling and ambushes.

Simon Lokol, a resident of Kaurikiakinei in Iriiri sub county in Napak district said the insecurity in Karamoja would not have escalated to the current state if the security team had listened to the advice of the village security committees.

Lokol says that the security personnel were told to involve the local leaders in the disarmament exercise.

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