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Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda People’s Defence Forces-UPDF has recovered seven guns in Karamoja region.
Major Peter Mugisa, the UPDF 3rd division spokesperson says that the guns were recovered on Wednesday during separate operations in Kotido, Nabilatuk and Moroto districts.
He said in Moroto district, they conducted a cordon and search operation in Loputuk sub county and recovered one SMG machine gun with 2 rounds of ammunition.
Major Mugisa said the other two guns were recovered in Nabilatuk district on the same day.
According to Mugisa, during another operation conducted in Kaletewa village, Kotido district, the army recovered three guns with 99 rounds of ammunition. He adds that another gun, one pair of military uniform and 13 bow arrows were recovered in Rekitai parish in Panyangara sub county, Kotido district.
Mugisa says that the cordon and search operation is part of the fresh disarmament which is soon starting in the Karamoja region.
Simon Lokut, a resident of Nakapelimoru sub county in Kotido district said that people found in possession of firearms should be punished.
John Lokoru, the chairman Panyangara peace committee says there is a widening gap between the army and the local leaders to bring peace in the region. He explains that whereas the army is on the right track to rid the region of illegal guns, the leadership is reluctant.
In less than six months, more than 50 people were killed in the region as warriors raided cattle. There have also been clashes between the warriors and the soldiers.
In 2020, the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Force- UPDF at the 3rd Division recovered 150 illegal guns in the hands of civilians across the nine districts of Karamoja. This is almost twice, the number of guns recovered in 2019 and 2018 in the region.
In 2019, the army recovered only 66 illegal guns while in 2018, 54 guns were recovered.
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