The joint forces that were deployed to combat cattle rustling in Karamoja have recovered 40 guns and 192 rounds of ammunition.

“On May 25, 2022, six illegal guns were recovered; five from Loptuk sub-county in Moroto district whereas one from Nakapiripirit district. This now brings the total to 40 illegal guns and 192 rounds of ammunition recovered since May 16, 2022,” the spokesperson of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye said.

According to the 3rd Division Second in Command in Karamoja region, Brig. Gen. David Mugisha, the recovery of the guns and ammunition is a “positive” step towards the total pacification of the region, which of recent experience an incursion of cattle rustling.

“Such separate recoveries and previous ones show positive energy and tireless efforts by commanders, intelligence officers and troops who are conducting simultaneous cordon and search operations, effecting deployments in towns and suspected corridors to pacify the sub-region,” Mugisha said.

On his part, the commandant of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit of Police, Elias Kasirabo, said Operation Tempo will be maintained.

Army officials said that in the past ten days, the Cordon and Search Operations across nine districts of Karamoja sub-region by the joint security forces, 3592 suspects have been arrested, 2298 persons released, 396 prosecuted and remanded, while 898 suspects are still in custody.

Army officials added that 22 pieces of armed forces uniforms have also been recovered.

Early this month, President Yoweri Museveni said during the pass-out of 2, 610 Local Defence Personnel at Labwordwong Training School in Agago district that cattle rustlers will soon lose appetite for holding guns.

“Tell those rustlers that they will very soon lose appetite for holding or even seeing a gun; whoever sees the cattle rustlers tell them to stop disturbing our people,” Museveni said.

The UPDF last year launched an operation against cattle rustling code-named, Usalama Kwa Wote loosely translated to mean ‘Peace for All’, headed by Brig. Gen. Joseph Balikudembe.