John Nangiro, the LC5 chairperson of Nakapiripirit district, emphasized the need for urgent peace dialogues with the aggrieved pastoralists before they migrate back to prevent possible revenge attacks.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto regional police spokesperson confirmed the incident asserting that the soldier broke into the residence of Officer-in-Charge Nakapelimoru police station and accessed the gun he used for killing the people.
The reformed warriors say that they have increasingly become vulnerable and exposed to the threats of attacks from the armed Pokot and Turkana from Kenya after surrendering their guns to the government. They are now accusing their political leaders of convincing them to give out the guns.
Currently, the joint security forces are conducting community peace dialogues to convince the cattle raiders to voluntarily hand over their guns without prosecution. The initiative has yielded results from the districts in Northern Karamoja such as Abim, Kotido, Kaabong and Karenga.
However, there has been some resistance from the districts in the south Karamoja that comprises Moroto, Napak, Amudat, Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit.
The ongoing dialogues bring together the local leaders, Elders, Security team, and community members. The campaign also seeks to mobilize the warriors who are still in the jungle to embrace peace and voluntarily hand over their guns.
The joint security forces are currently holding a warrior only identified as Modo, who is suspected of involvement in the crime. Although the suspect admitted to being part of the attacking group, he denied being responsible for the victims' deaths on that ill-fated day.
According to Busizoori, their intelligence indicates that most guns used for terrorizing the Pian communities are coming from Pokot West in Kenya through Amudat district.
Lt. Col Richard Butungi, representing Maj Gen Don William Nabasa, the 3 Division Commander of Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF), received a gun from Emmanuel Anyakun, a resident of Lomoruchubai village, Loleet Parish, Lorengecora sub-county.
It is alleged that suspected cattle rustlers from the Pian community in Nabilatuk district crossed to Amudat district on July 5, and killed Lochuman Komole Lobai, a prominent Elder also known as a peace lover before raiding his 58 cows.
John Choko, the speaker of Longaroe Sub County told URN that the armed warrior emerged from nowhere and started shooting at the group where the chairman and the soldiers were seated while drinking the local brew known as abutia.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto police spokesperson said that the elephant started running after the locals and trampled one person dead before taking off to wilderness.
According to security, the registration and branding of cattle will enable them to manage the recoveries of stolen cows and avert exaggeration of numbers which have always put security forces under pressure to track animals that do not exist.
However, the proposal has generated a debate as a section of leaders oppose the plan lamenting that branding of cattle will be a waste of resources for no value.
While presiding over the handover at the UPDF 3rd Division headquarters on Friday, Gen Wilson Mbadi, the Chief of Defence Forces thanked the outgoing commander for his contribution to address the insecurity in the region.
In the past two months alone, at least 28 civilians have been shot by the warriors, and an unspecified number of livestock has been raided.
Emmanuel Owena, the LC3 chairperson for Alerek Sub County in Abim district told URN that they are worried about an increase in the attacks by suspected Karimojong warriors using bow and arrows.
According to the teachers, they are fearing of possible attacks because the schools have been turned into a battle field and crossing point for the cattle rustlers.
Longole
urged the public to be vigilant during the holiday and avoid late-night
movements since security forces would be conducting operations against criminal
elements. He also recommended that residents create neighborhood watches,
harden targets for criminals, and report suspicious individuals to the police.
