The leaders who serve as the chairpersons of security committees at the sub-county level have been at the forefront of advocating for peace and disarmament. However, they are now living in fear as they are being targeted by the armed Karamojong warriors who accuse them of working with the Security forces to frustrate their cattle raid missions.
A section of local leaders in the Karamoja
sub-region have appealed to the government to provide them with guns for protection
against armed warriors.
The demand for guns comes after the suspected Karamojong
warriors shot dead Mario Lotyang Lokaino, the sub-county chairperson of
Kotido Sub County in Kotido district.
Lokaino was gunned down on Saturday night at
Lokitelebu trading centre. This was the fifth murder of a local leader in
Kotido district between 2022 and 2024. In April 2022, Longole Aped, the vice
chairperson of the Napumpum sub-county, was shot dead while allegedly leading a
team of armed warriors to raid cattle. A month later, his superior, Paul Lowok,
was also killed by armed warriors.
In July 2022, Daniel Akom, the speaker of the Kapeta
sub-county, was shot dead by the same group. A year later, in July 2023, Moses
Lomuria, the LC III chairperson of Longaroe sub-county, was killed alongside
three security officers in an attack at the Narubela trading centre.
The leaders who serve as the chairpersons of security
committees at the sub-county level have advocated for
peace and disarmament. However, they are now living in fear as they are being targeted
by the armed Karamojong warriors who accuse them of working with the Security
forces to frustrate their cattle raid missions.
According to the leaders, they want the Government to
provide them with guns so that they can fight against the armed warriors who
are targeting them. They also alleged that the Security forces have failed to
protect them against the attackers when they are exposed to the warriors.
Joseph Otita, the LCIII Chairperson of Rupa Sub-county in
Moroto district, said there is no way they can head security committees when
they are not protected.
Otita noted that the security forces have failed to protect
the chairpersons and the only hope is to arm them so they can defend
themselves. He said that there were armed civilians surrounding them and not
responding to the disarmament calls.
Otita noted that the leaders have been intimidated and can no longer speak freely in the community because the warriors always monitor their conversation. He also wondered why leaders were being killed
without government intervention and the warriors had been arrested.
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John Robert Adupa, the LCIII chairperson of the Lotisan
sub-county said that they are worried about their
safety as warriors continue threatening their lives.
Adupa said that they have always been targeted by the
warriors for being at the forefront of the peace-building processes. He said
that most of them are exposed to danger and security forces have not taken an interest
to protect them.
Adupa suggested that the government consider giving each sub-county
about ten armed forces and a gun to the sub-county chair for self-protection.
He said that the sub-county chair would be responsible for
the guns and making sure that the guns are in safe custody.
Adupa said that they are willing to resign from their duties
if the security for leaders is not addressed amicably.
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Christopher Lolem, the LCIII chairperson of Lobongia sub-county
in Kaabong district said that warriors warned them to stop engaging themselves
in the ongoing disarmament.
According to Lolem, the warriors assured him that they
only survive through cattle rustling and disarmament would through them into
extreme poverty.
Lolem said that the government should think of empowering
the warriors so that they can embrace peace.
Lolem said that although he may not support the idea of
arming sub-county chairpersons, there is a need to provide security measures to
protect the leaders.
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Emmanuel Chero, the Presidential Adviser on youth affairs
and sustainable peace in the Karamoja expressed his concerns about the
escalating gun violence targeting sub-county chairpersons.
Chero said the chairpersons are critical in maintaining
local peace and security, yet they have become targets for unknown armed thugs.
He noted that the loss of five leaders at the hands of the warriors is a tragedy that affects not only their families and communities but
also the stability of Karamoja and Uganda at large.
"The government must take immediate action to protect
these leaders, similar to the protection afforded to RDCs, ensuring their
safety without arming them with personal weapons," Chero said.
Michael Longole, Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson
opposed the idea of arming sub-county chairpersons stating that it may breed
another wave of insecurity.
Longole said that there was no way they could give out guns
to the section of civilians while disarming at the same time.
He said urged the leaders to cooperate with the security
forces to hunt down the wrong elements destabilizing peace.
Longole noted that most of the warriors stay with the local
leaders within the community but they are not reported to the security forces.
Longole revealed they are doing everything possible to hunt
down the killers of the Kotido Sub-county chairperson. He said that they had
already gathered some information that would lead to the arrest of the
suspects.
