Karamoja Cattle Markets Closed

Jun 23, 2002

Nakapiripirit district security committee has ordered the temporary closure of all cattle markets in the district.

By Nathan EtenguNakapiripirit district security committee has ordered the temporary closure of all cattle markets in the district.The committee resolved last Monday that the markets be closed to curb cattle theft that was rampant in the district. The Resident District Commissioner, Peter Ken Lochap, said the decision was taken after several incidents in which cattle stolen from Moroto district was sold in markets in Nakapiripirit.The UPDF 3rd Division commander, Col. Sula Semakula, ordered the temporary closure of cattle markets in Moroto and Kotido on May 11. Lochap said some of the cattle had also found their way into markets in Katakwi district where they are sold to waiting cattle traders. “To avert all these cattle thefts, it was resolved that all the cattle markets in the district be temporarily closed,” Lochap said.He said the security meeting was held at Nabilatuk, the county headquarters for Pian county. Lochap said the cattle thieves had taken advantage of the closure of the markets in Moroto and Kotido to smuggle their loot to Nakapiripirit markets.He said the markets had been used to dispose of cattle raided by the Karimojong from their neighbours in the region.Semakula also said the people of Nakapiripirit had responded positively to the voluntary disarmament exercise. Ends

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