To date, security forces have impounded 8,487 bags of charcoal across Karamoja, which have been handed over to the National Forestry Authority (NFA) for further management. They also intercepted 8,029 jerrycans of illicit waragi and 7,900 jerrycans have been disposed of on court orders.
Charles Anyakun, the chairperson of the Karamoja Pensioners Association, recalled that the first Europeans' entry to Karamoja was in 1908 through the Napak district in the areas of Lotome and Kangole. The British, who were armed with guns, were confronted by the locals who fought them with spears.
This operation resulted in the forceful recovery of a Sub Machine Gun (SMG) with serial number P07743 BC, along with another numberless SMG, accompanied by 17 live rounds of ammunition.
A team from UBOS has been deployed across all nine districts of Karamoja to capture the details of administrative units, household heads, physical features, and institutions such as health facilities, schools, and churches among others.
Karamoja is one of the areas in Uganda with the largest mineral potential. The region has high deposits of limestone, gypsum, iron ore, wolfram, nickel, gold, copper, cobalt, lithium, gemstones, tin, marble and other rare earth elements.
They have in the past days interfaced with communities, Local Council and district leaders, security officials, human rights activities, Ministers, First Lady, Janet Museveni and others on the different challenges faced by Karamoja ranging from Health, Education, insecurity, nutrition, human rights abuse and others.
