Security forces recover gun in Kotido operation
Police say Ilukol is being investigated, and the weapon will undergo ballistic analysis to determine whether it has been used in previous crimes.
The firearm was found in the possession of Apalokol Ilukol, a resident of Naryamatolim Village in Kotido sub-county.
By Simon Masaba
Journalists @New Vision
KOTIDO - Security forces in Kotido district have recovered an illegal firearm in what police describe as a “significant step” towards improving peace and stability in the Karamoja subregion.
The August 12, 2025, operation, conducted at about 11:30am, led to the recovery of a submachine gun (SMG) rifle, serial number 08403, loaded with one round of ammunition.
The firearm was found in the possession of Apalokol Ilukol, a resident of Naryamatolim Village in Kotido sub-county.
“This operation is a clear demonstration of our commitment to maintaining law and order in Karamoja. The recovery of the illegal firearm is crucial in reducing armed criminal activity and creating a safer environment for residents,” said Mike Longole, the Mt. Moroto and Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) spokesperson.
Police say Ilukol is being investigated, and the weapon will undergo ballistic analysis to determine whether it has been used in previous crimes.
Longole praised the collaboration between security forces and the community, urging residents to continue sharing information that can help remove illegal weapons from circulation.
“This is a step in the right direction, and we expect such efforts to yield more positive results in the future,” he added.
The operation is the latest in a series of coordinated efforts under the government’s renewed disarmament campaign in the Karamoja subregion.
The initiative aims to curb decades of armed cattle rustling, inter-clan raids, and highway ambushes linked to the proliferation of illicit firearms.
These weapons became central to the practice of cattle raiding, which has fuelled cycles of violence and reprisals between clans and neighbouring districts.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), police, and ASTU have in recent years intensified joint operations to recover illegal guns, often combining force with community sensitisation and voluntary disarmament initiatives.
Authorities report that hundreds of weapons have been recovered since 2021, but challenges remain, including the concealment of firearms in remote terrain and cross-border smuggling from South Sudan and Kenya.