Speaking over the weekend in Madiopei Town Council in Lamwo District, Rwot Acana noted that the persistent attacks have left the population in the hotspot areas poor and insecure.
Acholi Paramount Chief David Onen Acana II has called on President Museveni to intervene in ending the persistent attacks by armed Karimojong rustlers on his subjects in districts bordering the Karamoja sub-region. The districts of Agago, Kitgum, and Lamwo, which border Abim, Kotido, and Karenga, have over the years experienced frequent fatal attacks and the theft of hundreds of cattle by armed Karimojong warriors.
Since the beginning of the year, at least five people in Agago district have been killed by the suspected rustlers, with the latest incident occurring a week ago. A 19-year-old man was gruesomely murdered in Lai Muto Town Council. Other deaths have been reported in the sub-counties of Lapono, Parabongo, Kuywe, and Omiya Pachua.
Speaking over the weekend in
Madiopei Town Council in Lamwo District, Rwot Acana noted that the persistent
attacks have left the population in the hotspot areas poor and insecure. Acana noted that the gruesome
murder of the 19-year-old man depicts the worrying nature of the attacks the locals
are going through that need urgent intervention of the president.
According
to Acana, seven assailants were involved in the murder of the deceased and are
suspected to be Karimojong warriors. He directed the State Minister
for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation to convey his appeal to the President to act
on the incidents.
Luo bite
//Cue in: “Ma I Agago…
Cue out:…I wii yat.”//
Rwot Acana also noted that the
region is battling with theft of cattle both from the Karimojong and South
Sudanese armed men especially in Lamwo which is threatening livelihoods and
needs unity from the leaders to combat them.
Luo Bite
//Cue in: “Med ki eno…
Cue out:…ki mako tekwaro.”//
Dr Omona, however in response
noted that while the army has done a lot to protect the locals from the aggressive
attacks of the Karimojong, they should bolster their efforts to ensure the
incursions are averted.
Omona said the government is
fully committed towards supporting the security personnel in Agago to combat
attacks and theft of cattle within the communities of Agago and beyond.
He however explained that there
is a need to sensitize the neighboring communities of Karamoja on mindset
change so that they cease acts of cattle theft.
//Cue in: “Please do your…
Cue out:…Ki yako ayaka.”//
In response to the growing incursion of Karimojong warriors in areas of Agago and Kitgum districts, the army in April 2023 deployed its elite soldiers from the Special Forces Command to counter the assailants.
however last month, Col. David Opeero,
the Deputy Fifth Infantry Division Commander noted that manpower shortage still remained a challenge admitting that the warriors have taken advantage of it to invade and launch their attacks.
In the major hotspot areas
targeted by the suspected armed warriors, security personnel have imposed a ban
on night movement by the locals to mitigate attacks.
According to data provided by
local leaders in Agago district, since 2023, over 100 people were killed by Karimojong
warriors between 2018 and 2023 in 11 out of 26 sub-counties while a total of
1,632 cattle, and 2,685 goats were looted.
