Captain Edrin Mawanda, the Public Information Officer for 5 Infantry Division confirmed the arrests stating that the suspects in custody were found in possession of 117 stolen cattle, four arrows, and one bow.
The Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces are holding a juvenile and a 60–year–old Karamojong warrior for raiding 127 head of cattle in the Kapelebyong
district.
It's reported that on Sunday night, the troops from the 85
Battalion Headquarters, while on night patrol, exchanged gunfire with Jie
Karamojong rustlers in Kathiputhi, Chamkok Sub-county, Abim District.
In the process, two warriors were apprehended, and one put
out of action while others managed to escape with a firearm. The forces also managed
to recover 127 cattle, four arrows, four axes, and one bow in two separate
operations against the Karamojong warriors believed to be the Jie from Kotido
district.
The suspects arrested have been identified as Looyo Adugu,
60, and Lobit Lokolong, aged 9, both residents of Nakwakwa Village, Rengen
Sub-county, Kotido District.
Captain Edrin Mawanda, the Public Information Officer for 5
Infantry Division confirmed the arrests stating that the suspects in custody were
found in possession of 117 stolen cattle, four arrows, and one bow.
Mawanda explained that the livestock was recovered following the two separate operations by troops from the 85th and 87th
Battalions.
He noted that the first operation from the 87 Battalion
engaged suspected Jie warriors and killed one before recovering 10 cows in
Okwangluk Village, Opopong Sub-county, Abim District.
Mawanda noted that the recovered livestock, which is
believed to have been stolen from Kapelebyong District, is pending
identification of its rightful owners.
Major General Keith Katungi, the 5th Infantry Division
Commander cautioned the Karamojong community against engaging in cattle theft
and urged them to pursue alternative livelihood activities. Katungi called on parents and community leaders to prioritize
education, emphasizing that "education is the key to a better future for
the next generation.
Meanwhile, the continued detention and trials of Karamojong
cattle rustlers in the Military courts have raised concerns among human rights
activists and the leaders in the Karamoja.
Charles Donaldson Ogira, the Executive
Director of Karamoja Rights Advocates Network noted that the Supreme
Court decries the trial of civilians in the military courts and this
raises a lot of alarm.
Ogira said that there are many Karamojong warriors in cells
because of arbitrary arrests and ruthless handling of civilians. He added that there
is a need to step up advocacy against the practice of trying civilians in the
military.
Ogira also noted that the civilians caught in the act of
stealing livestock can be handled by the Anti Stock Theft Unit police and not
in the UPDF facility. He advised that the UPDF would only support apprehending
the warriors and handing them over to the ASTUs Police for further management
and investigations.
Ogira also condemned the arrest of the juveniles and holding
them in the same military detention as the adult suspects.
//Cue in: "It raises a serious...
Cue out...the military barracks".//
John Robert Adupa, the LCIII Chairperson of Lotisan Sub
County in Moroto district observed that many people are held in the military
barracks for stealing cows without guns.
Adupa noted that most of the warriors arrested have always
been tagged to illegal possession of firearms yet they only participated in the
theft. He added that such cases should be handled in the civilian courts
because involve theft without firearms.
Adupa said that even civilians with guns can be tried in the
civilian courts because they are not terrorists who would bring threats to the
State.
