Mike Longole, the Mt Moroto Police Spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that the forces successfully recovered all the 11 cows and 4 donkeys which were raided after defeating warriors in crossfire.
Mike Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson attributed the successful recoveries to the effectiveness of joint security efforts in combating cattle rustling and ensuring public safety.
In December 2024, the armed warriors suspected to have come from the Kaabong district raided 25 cows in the Lotisan sub-county, Moroto district. The peace committee tracked the cows up to Kaabong West Sub County where they recovered some.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday at around 9:30 Am while inside one of the grass-thatched huts as they were planning to go for a cattle raid mission.
But just a week after the last meeting, four cyclists have been killed in the same location. The latest incident occurred on Sunday when two cyclists one identified as Emmanuel Otim and another yet to be identified were killed in a road ambush.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson said that there is a need for the general public to enhance alertness at all levels during the Easter season.
The joint security forces have been cracking down on the Turkana pastoralists grazing in the Karamoja sub-region following President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni's executive order dated May 2023, ordering all the Turkana Pastoralists to return to Kenya as one of the measures to curb gun violence in the region.
Michael Longole, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson said on Wednesday that the Forces responded swiftly by conducting an operation that led to his arrest and recovery of a gun.
The incident happened at 9:00am when the officers were searching for a data drone that got lost inside Pian Upe Game Reserve.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson said it was on Monday at about 5:00pm when Lt Stephen Otambo, a UPDF Officer attached to UWA was on the joint operation with other twelve UWA Staff to capture data using their drone.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson told our reporter that they managed to recover all the cattle with the help of residents from the areas of Naontosi towards the border with Kenya.
Maj Moses Amuya, the acting 3rd division spokesperson confirmed the incident asserting that the forces also recovered 43 live rounds of ammunition, a uniform of the Kenya Defence Forces, and jerry cans of illicit waragi.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson, expressed concern about potential criminal activities anticipated within communities, with motorcycles potentially being used to facilitate crimes.
Brig Gen Felix Busizoori, the Deputy Commander of the UPDF 3rd division, explained that the absence of accessible roads in mountainous areas makes it arduous to apprehend armed criminals. He noted that these criminals utilize the mountainous terrain to monitor security movements and evade capture by escaping to higher ground.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto regional police spokesperson said that these areas are being used as a hiding ground for cattle rustlers and other criminal elements from both Uganda and Kenya.
As of Wednesday, two guns were received from the Turkana Pastoralists in Naput army detachment pending one.
In May 2023, President Yoweri Museveni ordered all the Turkana pastoralists grazing in Karamoja to return to Kenya as one of the measures to curb gun violence in the region.
The districts of Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Amudat and Napak have witnessed a new wave of vandals in the last three months mainly targeting roadsigns, Borehole spare parts, Electric wires belonging to Uganda Electricity Distribution company, organization signposts, and binding iron bar wires for bridges among others.
Moses Muteesa, the chairperson Wankulukuku livestock cooperative society in Kampala told URN that the government should suspend livestock markets in Karamoja region if they want to deal with the problem of commercialized cattle raids.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson says that they are cracking down on the motorists without proper documentation following intelligence that some of the motorcycles are used to facilitate crime.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto regional police spokesperson, confirmed the arrests, stating that they were carried out in line with the presidential directives. Those involved in the charcoal trade will face charges for violating the Forestry Act, as guided by the National Environmental Management Authorities.
