Karimojong Hand Over 6,000 Guns

The Karimojong have voluntarily handed in 6,031 guns since President Yoweri Museveni launched the disarmament exercise on December 2, reports Nathan Etengu in Mbale. The UPDF 3rd division commander, Col. Sula Semakula, said yesterday Bokora county was by Thursday still leading with 1,504 guns. He said Dodoth county, Kotido district was the second with 1,137 guns while Jie county was the third with 1,030 guns. The guns recovered reflect a mere 15% of the estimated 40,000 believed to be in the hands of the Karimojong. “We have also received 640 guns from Matheniko and 378 guns from Labwor county,” Semakula said. He said Chekwi county and Pian county, both in Nakapiripirit district, had handed in 492 and 553 guns respectively. Semakula, however, said Upe (Pokot) county was still “tailing” with a mere 297 guns handed in. The Pokot wanted the deadline extended so their warriors who had crossed to Kenya could return. Museveni had given the Karimojong and Uganda Pokot up to January 2 to hand in the guns after which they would be forcefully recovered by the UPDF and LDUs. Museveni, who spent nearly one month in the Karamoja region, told the warriors that dogs would be used to sniff any guns buried on the ground while those that would be hidden in caves would also be recovered by the army. Semakula yesterday advised the Karimojong and Pokot who had not yet handed in their guns to do so before the expiry of the grace period. Meanwhile, Reuben Olita in Nairobi reports that Kenya has hailed the deployment of the UPDF on the common border to fight cattle rustlers. Kenya police spokesman Peter Kimathi said Kenya and Uganda share a common enemy—cattle rustlers. Kimathi hailed Uganda’s move as long as it is aimed at checking cattle rustlers. He said Kenya government would strengthen similar action. Kimanthi refuted The Daily Nation report that Karimojong cattle rustlers invaded a Kenyan village killing eight. He said the raiders were Toposa from Sudan. Ends