In July 2021, the government of Uganda launched Usalama Kwa Yote Operations to disarm all the Karamojong who had illegal firearms. The operations have seen considerable success since its inception.
The report shows that 1170 guns and 9217 rounds of ammunition were seized while 53,253 livestock were recovered, 29,321 suspected cattle rustlers were arrested and 2091 have been prosecuted.
Ahmed Madiri, the mt Moroto RPC, Francis Chemusto, the Anti Stock Theft Unit Commandant, and Maj Gen Don William Nabasa, the UPDF 3rd division commander displaying some of the guns recovered
Joint security forces have said that they will not halt operations against criminals and illegal firearms in
the Karamoja sub-region.
The region has long suffered from the recycling of
insecurity accompanied by low development as pastoralists take cattle raiding
as a common practice for a living.
The resurgence of cattle raiding, road
ambushes, and killings escalated in 2019 and peaked in 2022 to 2023. This comes
barely ten years of peace after the first disarmament in 2001 that led to the
recovery of 40,000 illegal firearms from the Karamojong warriors.
In July 2021, the government launched Usalama
Kwa Yote Operations to disarm all the Karamojong who had illegal firearms. The
operations have seen considerable success since its inception.
The report shows that 1170 guns and 9217 rounds of
ammunition were seized while 53,253 livestock were recovered, 29,321
suspected cattle rustlers were arrested and 2091 have been prosecuted.
However, there are still some cases of killings as criminals
continue to rearm. The recent killing was that of the Kotido Sub
County chairperson who was murdered by unknown warriors on Sunday.
The security forces attributed the isolated murder cases to the influx
of arms from neighbouring countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan
continues to frustrate the disarmament effort.
According to the forces, they need more time to find
solutions for the porous borders to stop the influx of guns into Karamoja to
pave the way for total peace restoration.
Maj Gen Don William Nabasa, the UPDF 3rd Division Commander said that it is not easy to determine the end of operations against
illegal arms when the rearmament is taking place.
Nabasa noted that initially, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
had given the forces two weeks to accomplish three missions which included the
warriors losing appetite for firearms, restoring the relationship between the
military and civilians, and building total peace in the region.
Nabasa said that they have only achieved strengthening the relationship between the forces and the local population. He
added that the community is happy and working together with the security forces
with the common goal of pacifying peace.
Nabasa observed that the mission to restore total peace is
frustrated by the neighboring communities such as Keya and South Sudan who are
fully armed. He noted that the porous borders had frustrated their efforts to completely
get rid of the firearms among the Karamojong warriors.
//Cue in: "The time we were...
Cue out: "...closely monitored ". //
Despite the challenges, Francis Chemusto, the Anti
Stock Theft Unit Commandant explained that police have been able to contain the
trade of illicit waragi, charcoal trade, and the livestock trade that has been
a driving factor fueling raids in the region.
Chemusto said they used to recover bottles of waragi inside
the pockets of cattle rustlers who were arrested or killed. He said that the
waragi used to give warriors false confidence in carrying out attacks including
in the security installations.
Chemusto noted that high consumption of waragi also increased
crime rates, especially assaults, rape, murder, and homicides before the
operations of Waragi.
He cited that cases like homicides were reported at 135 in
2021, but later reduced to 95 in 2022 whereas 1,877 assault cases also
reduced to 1300 in 2022 following the operations against illicit waragi.
Chemusto further noted that 7790 Jerricans were impounded
while 130 suspects were arrested and 81 were taken to court.
Chemusto highlighted that since 2021, at least 1,696 cows have
been impounded in the markets, 129 were found stolen ad 130 suspects were
arrested, 46 were taken to court while others were cautioned.
//Cue in: "Since 2021 we.......
Cue out :...........arrested is 36".//
David Koryang, the LCV Chairperson of Moroto said that poverty is the major cause of insecurity in the region. He noted that insecurity has instead escalated poverty
rates as local people engage in dubious activities to make money. He said that
Karamojong used to raid cows as part of leisure to enlarge the kraal, unfortunately,
it turned to business for money.
Koryang noted that as leaders, they are shifting their focus
to strengthen education and skills development to transform the region.
Koryang said that once the communities get empowered, the
raids would reduce because they have other avenues for making money.
//Cue in: "Poverty has been.......
Cue out: ......art and craft ". //
Mohammed Ismail, the Mayor of Moroto Municipality said that relative peace is experienced as a result of
teamwork from the security agents and other partners.
He noted that they worked as a team to ensure that sanity is
returned and this has contributed to the peace that is now attracting more
investors.
Mohamed said that they are now working hard to make the
place conducive and attractive for investors to come in and develop.
