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Kitgum, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF soldiers have shot dead a suspected Karimojong rustler in a foiled cattle theft in Kitgum district. The unidentified male adult armed with a bow and arrow, was reportedly gunned down at about 2am on Thursday in Lucim village, Akurumo Parish, Orom East sub-county.
The Orom East sub county LC III chairperson, Bruno Nelson told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that the deceased was gunned down between Akurumo and Pire junction while fleeing with a stolen cow together with two others. The army intercepted the rustlers and opened fire at them.
According to Nelson, the suspects had stolen the animal from Akilok central village and were on their way to the neighbouring Karenga district. He notes that another group of rustlers also raided animals from Lakwanya at Orom East sub-county headquarters on Wednesday night, but were repulsed leaving behind calves taken from community kraals.
Kitgum Resident District Commissioner William Komakech confirmed the incident in an interview with URN, saying that the suspects had entered an ambush laid by UPDF after being tipped off. He notes that during the gunfire, one animal was also shot dead.
Komakech says the presence of armed rustlers in the district is a great security concern, adding that many of the rustlers who crossed from Karamoja region fleeing ongoing disarmament could be hiding in the wilderness of Orom East and Orom sub-county.
The incident comes barely a month after suspected rustlers killed a prison warden attached to Orom-Tikao prison in Orom sub-county. The deceased was reportedly attacked by a group of 10 suspected rustlers at about 5pm on October 1, while attending to his garden.
Security personnel early this month raised concerns over growing numbers of suspected rustlers who fled into communities in Kitgum and Agago, that border Karamoja following the ongoing disarmament exercise by the army.
The army and police intensified the disarmament exercise in Karamoja region in July this year following the resurgence of armed cattle raids and gun violence.
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