The 406 Brigade Investigations Officer Maj. Ephraim Byaruhanga issued the Directive on Friday, during a community security meeting held in Panyangara Sub County, Kotido district. Maj. Byaruhanga said the directive takes immediate effect.
The Uganda People's Defense Forces have directed Jie pastoralists from Kotido district to return all the cattle they could have stolen from neighboring districts, where they had gone in search of water and pasture. This follows reports of rampant cattle thefts, lawlessness and an isolated case of murder in Agago district.
The 406 Brigade Investigations Officer Maj. Ephraim Byaruhanga issued the Directive on Friday, during a community security meeting held in Panyangara Sub County, Kotido district. Maj. Byaruhanga said the directive takes immediate effect.
He explained that the UPDF Directive stems from a series of consultative meetings held between the security agencies and the leadership of the neighboring districts of Abim, Agago, Otuke and Kapelebyong in which the host communities demanded that that all pastoralists from Kotido are evicted until a Memorandum of Understanding and conduct of pastoralists is defined.
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The Kotido District Chairperson, Ambrose Lotukei welcomed the directive with hopes that it will help pacify the area and reduce theft of livestock.
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However, Lotukei says the exercise should be peaceful and the pastoralists should be directed to an area where there is water and pasture.
The Kotido Resident District Commissioner Peter Logiro blamed pastoralists from Kotido for condoning theft and disorder leading to their eviction from the neighboring districts.
Stanley Ebele
Freelancer
