UGANDA registered the highest number of human deaths and theft of livestock as a result of cattle rustling among the seven countries in the Horn of Africa, according to data by a regional body.

Steven Candia reports that the report was released by the Conflict Early Warning and Early Response (CEWARN) mechanism. It said 459 people were killed and 10,018 animals stolen in Uganda in the first eight months of this year.

CEWARN monitors pastoral conflicts in the Karamoja and “Somali Clusters” comprising the border areas of Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

“In both the Karamoja and the Somali Clusters, the conflict-aggravating factors were highlighted to be environmental pressure – floods and drought as well as free flow of arms among others,” said a statement issued by the communications officer, Zam Zam Nagujja.