Over 157 heads of cattle raided in Bulambuli recovered

CATTLE RAIDS

BULAMBULI - The Uganda Police Force and Uganda People Defense Forces pursued Karamojong cattle rustlers and recovered over 157 heads of cattle that had been raided from their neighbors the Bagisu in Bulambuli district.

The revelation was made by the Bulambuli Resident District commissioner Peter Paax Lokot on Saturday while delivering his speech during the belated International Women's day celebration for Bulambuli district at Muyembe primary school ground.

"Bulambuli has been peaceful and residents have been going on with the production but recently some isolated cases of cattle raids from our neighbors the Karamojongs have started causing insecurity in the district," Lokot said.

"The raids started early last year in November up to date and several heads of cattle have been raided by Karamojongs causing tension among the cattle keepers in Bulambuli district," He added.

Lokot noted that UPDF and police early this month beefed up security on the border between Karamoja and Bulambuli, Kween and Kapchorwa, adding that they have also mounted up roadblocks to check on cattle theft.

He said that security has also been beefed up in the cattle corridors used by cattle raiders and that UPDF and police have been able to trace the raiders up to Nakapiripirit district where some heads of cattle where recovered.

"I am Karamojong by tribe but I do not support cattle raids and theft and that is why I have taken initiative to lead the UPDF and police to pursue the rustlers so that the cattle raided in Bulambuli are recovered," he said.

Lokot also decried ever increasing tension between Bagisu and Sabin over the boundary conflict between Kween and Bulambuli districts which he said is brewing insecurity in the region and accused local leaders of fueling it.

"The boundary conflict between Bulambuli, Kapchorwa and Kween is very serious. Last week over two hundred Sabin heavily armed with pangs, machetes and sticks attacked and planted sign posts in Bunambutye Sub-County in Bulambuli district claiming that that is where their land ends" Lokot said.

"Two days after planting the sign posts another group of over 250 Sabin attacked and beat an investor and attempted to set ablaze the investor's tractor that was tilling the land for agriculture and left one person injured and admitted at Bulambuli health IV," Lokot said.

"The security and government surveyors have started opening up the boundary but Sabin have refused to respect the process and have continued attacking Bagisu. We have talked to Bagisu not to revenge as most of them had wished," he said.

Minister for Energy and mineral development Eng. Irene Muloni who was the chief guest condemned the acts of cattle rustlers saying that it's a sign of backwardness, adding that it is only aimed at retarding development, peace and unity.

 "Government had drawn plans of providing dams to provide water for irrigation in the lower parts of Bulambuli so that they can get active in agriculture, but again raids and conflicts over boundary may affect the plans," Muloni said.

Muloni assured that the National Resistance Movement government under leadership of president Museveni is determined to provide irrigation technology to women so that they can actively participate in commercial agriculture to eradicate poverty in their homes.

End.