Army strikes harder at K’jong cattle rustlers

The UPDF has since the beginning of this month, intensified operations to wipe out cattle rustlers who have been terrorising Karamoja.

By OLANDASON WANYAMA

The UPDF has since the beginning of this month, intensified operations to wipe out cattle rustlers who have been terrorising Karamoja.

The UPDF 3rd division spokesperson, Capt. Henry Obbo, said 169 suspected warriors have been arrested in Kotido and Moroto districts.

The army, he said, was committed to ending cattle rustling that had increased during the recent heavy rains and sucked in children.
“We arrest whoever is found with animals that have a brand of another district,” he said on Tuesday.

Obbo said the suspects are handed over to the Police in the respective districts where they committed the crime.

“So far, we have sent 11 suspects to Nakapiripirit district, 46 to Kotido and retained 10 in Moroto,” he said.

Obbo said 101 rustlers, who were part of the Jie gang from Kotido that stole animals from Kangole Chini village in the newly-created Napak district, were tried in Moroto civil court last week. He warned that the army was determined to have all the stolen cattle back in the hands of the rightful owners.