The two victims among others were part of a team that were on Saturday evening pursuing a group of Karamojong warriors that had attacked Odeogwok Village in Namukora Sub County in Kitgum district and raided six cattle.
The Acholi sub-region, particularly Lamwo and Kitgum districts, has experienced a rise in gun violence. These areas share borders with Karamojong regions and are adjacent to South Sudan. Most of the attacks occur during nighttime hours.
According to Odera, after the attack, the suspected Karimajong warriors believed to be four in number proceeded towards Lagwok-Omer village in Karkalet parish where they made off with seven head of cattle belonging to the area LCI Chairperson.
The ex-captives have been identified as, Charles Nyeko, Betty Achiro, Amos Odera, Omal Denis and one person only identified as Aketo. They are all residents of Orom East and Kiteny in the Kitgum district.
Grace Auma, the LC V female councilor of Orom East sub-county told Uganda Radio Network that the gunmen surrounded their victims in Kabongun where many farmers have their gardens. Auma said the gunmen killed Paska Atingo, who is believed to be between 45-50 years of age.
Matthew Oloya Oryang, an elder in Lunganuya Parish in Orom Sub County says that the persistent rustling and insecurity have greatly disrupted social, economic and cultural lives in the affected areas.
According to Toodera, residents are concerned over the resurgence of the warriors who stage armed attacks to steal livestock, which often claims the lives of innocent civilians. The raiders also kidnap and rape women and girls.
William Komakech, the Resident District Commissioner says that during a meeting between the leaders and the pastoralists, it was agreed that the pastoralists be given some time as they make arrangements to peacefully vacate the area.
The herdsmen were evicted by a group of vigilante youths led by the Lolwa and Gule parish councillors. The group escorted the pastoralists alongside their animals estimated to be over 200 in number to the Sub County headquarters.
Nyero says residents spent the better part of Saturday trying to blow whistles and vuvuzelas as they banged tins, jerrycans and drums and set fires as a measure of repulsing the stray elephants away, without success.
Two of the male victims reportedly sustained gunshot injuries to their chest and legs while two females were shot using bows and arrows on Saturday night, according to reports from security personnel.
The victims were reportedly attacked last night when the assailants armed with bows and arrows raided their home in Labongo Otal village, Gule Parish in Orom Sub-county. Security identified the victims as Faustino Oyoo, 73, and his wife Laura Apio, 65, who are currently undergoing medical treatment at Namokora Health Center IV.
The Orom East Sub-County LC III Chairperson, Bruno Nelson told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that the deceased was gunned down between Akurumo and Pire junction while fleeing with a stolen cow together with two others.
Patrick Ociti Laboke, the Speaker Kitgum Active Boda Boda Association, says that the motorcycles were impounded from various locations in Pandwong, Pager and Central divisions.
According to Maj. Terimulungi, the deployment is not only meant to repulse the stray elephants as a way of protecting the most vulnerable citizens from losing their crops, lives and property to wildlife but also to protect and conserve the endangered wildlife.
The forceful eviction follows the expiry of an ultimatum issued by both the sub-county leaders and the district security to the pastoralists also known as balalo to vacate the sub-county by October 1st.
The pastoralist had settled in Pinymunu village in Pajimo Parish after their arrival with 35 heads of cattle for fattening from Ngora District on September 12 this year.
At least three security officers enforcing Covid-19 guidelines have been attacked and injured within Pandwong and Central Divisions in the past one and half weeks by Boda Boda riders past curfew hours.
Two of the injured are Uganda People’s Defence Force soldiers, one who sustained injuries on the legs and lost two teeth after being knocked with a motorcycle while another was assaulted on Pager River Bridge.
The Kelpolo village LCI Chairperson Alex Apire says they received reports from locals about the wild animal after it killed and devoured one cow that it dragged for a distance from the kraal it leaped into on Wednesday night.
Kitgum Resident District Commissioner, William Komakech says two cars used by the police in the district for transporting security personnel and emergency responses have been grounded for nearly one month.
