9 UPDF Guns Missing In Karamoja

At least nine UPDF guns have gone missing in Napak and Nakapiripirit districts raising a lot of concerns among the commanders in Karamoja.

The guns in question went missing in the last seven months with unspecified number of live ammunitions.

A source who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity on Sunday said that nine guns have been unaccounted for since the beginning of the year. He adds that more have not been declared missing, but several are believed to have gone into wrong hands. He explains that 403 Brigade Headquarters lost four guns on a single day to unknown people. He adds that 407 Brigade in Nakapiripirit district has continuously lost firearms in their detachments.

Lt. Jimmy Omara, the UPDF 3rd Division spokesperson when contacted could neither confirm nor deny the development. He says if guns have gotten lost in that manner then something is wrong. Omara adds that of all items in the defence forces a firearm is significant and always its whereabouts must be known. He notes that soon the army leadership will order for an inventory to address weapon management in the UPDF. He promised to investigate the rampart loss of firearms.

Nahaman Ojwee, the Resident District Commissioner Moroto, blamed the weapon loss on the commanders on the ground. He encourages the army leadership to take steps and establish the weaknesses.

Last year, Tepeth warriors stole a gun from the army detachment in Nakapiripirit district before the army recovered it in Moroto district.

Around the same time, a civilian housewife Everline Abonyo, a resident of Abim district stole her husbands’ gun and was caught selling it at Paradise Hotel in Kotido town council.

In June this year, Sabiny rustlers attacked a UPDF detachment in Bukwo district and stole two guns after hacking a soldier to near death. The guns were recovered at Siemunin village near Kitale town inside Kenya. Ends