Apanaluk died leaving behind 54 wives, 187 children, 116 grandchildren and more than 2,000 head of cattle. The incident has created a rift between the Bokora (people Napak district) and the Pian (people of Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit) as the former want to revenge the killing of their elder and son.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed legislators from
Karamoja to join the security team in searching for the people involved in
lynching a famous community leader. It comes a week after unknown people lynched Mariko Abura
Apanaluk, a reknown Karimojong elder and Kraal leader together with his son,
Lokut Angolere at Nabwal Sub County in Napak district.
The same mob killed a
Local Defense Unit- LDU personnel attached to Duol army detach only identified
as Alengia. The trio that was trucking 20 stolen cattle belonging to Apanaluk
was mistakenly for cattle thieves and killed by the angry mob. Apanaluk died leaving behind 54 wives, 187
children, 116 grandchildren and more than 2,000 head of cattle.
The incident
has created a rift between the Bokora (people Napak district) and the Pian
(people of Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit) as the former want to revenge the
killing of their elder and son. The police and the army had to deploy heavily
to try to quell the angry residents. The incident has forced Karimojong leaders including
MPs to seek possible solutions to the matter.
Since Friday last week,
Karimojong MPs have been meeting sections of residents and local leaders
alongside security agencies to try to pacify the warring communities. In one of the meetings held at Napak district
headquarters on Sunday, the Pian MP, Remigio Achia revealed to his colleagues
that President Museveni was not happy with the insecurity in Karamoja.
Achia
who is the interim chairperson of Karamoja Parliamentary Group (KPG), said that
the president has asked the MPs to help security agencies bring to book the
killers of Apanaluk and others who have lost lives recently to criminals. Achia, who was delegated by the president to
deliver the message to the warring parties, told the meeting that the president
was very concerned about the matter and asked the leaders to help arrest the
criminals.
//Cue in “The president said…
Cue out…in Nabilatuk,”//
The president’s directive follows allegations that
some leaders are inciting locals against each other after the killings. Moses
Kigai Wamoto, the Napak RDC observed that it was regrettable to find some
leaders taking sides instead of fighting for justice for the victims.
//Cue in: “The chief promoter…
Cue out…turning point,”//
The 3rd Division Commander Big Joseph Balikudembe
said, they swung into action and arrested several people including one woman who
participated in Apanaluk’s killing. In the operation, also two GISO’s of
Lorengechora town council and Sub County were arrested to help the police and
army investigate the matter since they were seen inciting violence.
// cue in “We arrested…
Cue out…its course,”//
According to the LC 5 of Napak, John Paul Kodet,
his district has lost 1,229 head of cattle and more than 100 goats from
February to May but only 75 cows have been recovered. He adds that in the
process, armed warriors killed six people including a woman.
His Katakwi counterpart, Geoffrey Omolo also reported that they
have lost more than 500 cattle to the Karimojong since January this year from
the sub counties of Magoro, Palam, Ngariam, Okulonyo, Guyaguya and parts of
Ongongoja.
Francis Akorikin, the LC 5 chairperson for
Kapelebyong District told the Karamoja parliamentary delegation that as Local
government leaders, all the LC5 chairpersons of Teso and Karamoja have agreed
to cooperate to bring unity, peace and reconciliation among the people of the
two regions so that development can be achieved.
The insecurity in
Karamoja forced the area MPs to forego the State of the Nation address
delivered by the president on Friday.
Benjamin Epeduno
Freelancer
Emma Olinga
Freelancer