It is reported that the deceased identified as Daniel Owana and Ojapis were on Friday night riding a motorcycle registration number UFG 996P while returning to Kaabong from a cultural event in Napak district. The suspected warriors laid an ambush and gunned them down as they approached the Moruitit community camp.
Michael Longole, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson, says that the victims fell into an ambush by the armed warriors, who attempted to stop them before shooting and injuring the rider's right leg.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto regional police spokesperson told URN that the victims entered an ambush laid by two armed warriors who tried to stop them before shooting and injuring the right hand leg of the rider.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto regional police spokesperson told URN that the warriors suspected to be Dodoth opened fire at the officers but were later repulsed by the security officers in the same vehicle.
Isaac Oware, the UPDF 3rd division spokesperson said that they recovered two firearms and 33 heads of cattle which Jie armed warriors had stolen from grazing areas near Kaabong government prison.
The communities in the sub-counties of Kalapata, Sidok, and Kakamar lack access to essential services such as health services, education, and roads among others.
Despite numerous cross-border peace meetings, cattle rustling has continued with the recent incident that took place in Turkana where the Dodoth of Kaabong crossed and raided 300 cows.
The two neighboring communities made a commitment to end skirmishes and criminality at a peace reconciliation meeting held in Kalapata Sub-county, Kaabong district.
Perepetua Iwokot, a farmer in Loteruo village in Sidok sub county said that the animals most especially elephants are straying into the gardens bordering the game reserve searching for food have been damaging crops for the past three months.
Dr. Sharif Nalibe, the Kaabong District Health Officer, says that most health facilities are struggling to accommodate patients as their numbers exceed the ward capacity.
Meri Jino, the LC V chairperson of Kaabong district attributed the rising cases of malnutrition to the rampant cattle raids that saw the district losing over 55000 head of cattle to rustlers. Jino says this is a huge loss to families because it affects their livelihoods as children can no longer feed on milk as they used to.
According to Meri, there is a new element of commercialization of rustling, where wrongdoers connive to steal cows. He noted in the past, Karamojong used to raid for prestige, but it is currently driven by the desire for money.
The Red Cross Branch Manager for Kotido Moses Akol says they received financial assistance worth 95 million shillings from Red Cross Belgium operating in the Western Uganda to support at least 950 households in Loyoro, Lodiko and Kaabong East Sub Counties.
The valley dam is part of a bigger project comprising 8 valley dams built in different areas in the Karamoja sub-region at Shillings 46 billion (11 million Euros).
Ambassador Attilio says that Karamoja has unique challenges that the EU together with the local leaders and government seek to find solutions to in order to encourage development in the sub-region.
The UPDF says that the woman, only identified as Zam Zam, a resident of Kitome Trading Centre in Lodiko Sub County was shot dead by the warriors on suspicion that she was collaborating with security agencies revealing information about people with illegal firearms.
Brigadier Joseph Balikudembe, the 3rd Division Commander urged the women to be part of the pacification efforts. He noted that they would become more vulnerable if their husbands died in raids or forceful disarmament.
According to the hospital management, NFA has asked the district leadership to identify an alternative to swap with the one hosting the facility. The hospital management has since closed the theater, stores and old mortuary because many of the buildings are sinking.
Epitu Gadi, the Kaabong District Deputy Resident District Commissioner revealed that the people killed were either investigating the rustlers or those who have reported to the authorities about the raids of their cattle.
