Cattle traders arrested in Karamoja

Sep 30, 2020

Marachola Moding was found with three AK-47 guns. They were kept in his grass-thatched house.

CRIME 

NAKAP-Gen. Andrew Gutti, the chairperson of the General Court Martial, has ordered the arrest of the LC1 chairperson of Angaro village, Lotome subcounty in Napak district, over allegedly encouraging raids.

Marachola Moding was found with three AK-47 guns. They were kept in his grassthatched house.

During the operation to recover the guns, two of his sons are said to have escaped with two guns, before his other son was gunned down as he allegedly attempted to shoot at the soldiers.

The incident happened at Lotome boys playground, minutes before the arrival of Gutti's convoy.

He told the residents that he decided to arrest the LC1 chairperson for allegedly keeping the thieves in his house.

"We have information that the sons of this man have been stealing animals and keeping guns in his house," Gutti said.

He added that the army would detain him till the other two guns are  recovered.

The army was able to recover an AK-47 gun and 30 bullets.

Napak Resident District Commissioner, Haji Kaddunabi Lubega said they had reliable information that local leaders are involved in cattle theft.

Traders abetting crime 

Gutti later met with traders from various areas in the country at Nadunget detachment, where he asked them not to buy stolen animals.

Gutti speaking to traders at Nadunget detachment in Moroto district last week

Over 500 animals, specifically goats, are in the hands of the army, after a week of confiscation in Karamoja.

"Now that you have chosen to punish us by fuelling cattle raids, we shall not release your trucks till you produce the thieves who sell animals to you," he said.

Gutti did not hear any of the pleas from the traders.

Residents assured of security 

The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and other security agencies have told residents of Karamoja that security-led intelligence operations are going on in the region.

They have asked residents to go about their lawful business undeterred.

Addressing residents in Angaro village, Moru'angole parish, Lotome sub-county in Napak district at the weekend, Gutti said measures were in place to guarantee adequate security to residents of Karamoja.

"A joint force of the army and the Police are prepared to ensure protection of lives and property," he said.

He added that the troops are on alert to combat crime and ensure effective surveillance of the region.

Gutti's announcement comes in the wake of several weeks of raids and murders in Karamoja.

The attacks, he said, have caused panic among residents, forcing them to flee their villages to  Kangole in Napak.

He said the forces were committed to securing Karamoja so that human activities thrive.

"I would like to encourage the forces to remain strongwilled," Gutti said.

He asked those still keeping guns to surrender them to the authorities.

He told a roadside gathering that the Government was out to end the raids and the killings, to prevent displacement of people.

Gutti speaking to Machola after his arrest

He implored the residents to continue providing timely information on the activities of raiders, to various detachments and Police posts for action.

Lokonoi, a resident of the same village, said they were tired of being attacked every day.

Police speaks

Mt Moroto Region Police commander Gerald Twishime said it was not the first time traders were being forgiven.

He said the ever-increasing gun violence leading to death is the reason they are hard on the traders.

Twishime faulted the traders for conniving with the district veterinary officers to get fake documentation to transport stolen animals.

"You give bribes for those fake permits," he told traders at Nadunget army detachment.

Twishime cited the case of over 200 goats and sheep seized on a Kampala-bound bus on Wednesday last week, where one female trader did not have any documentation.

Achievements by UPDF

In the last one week, six suspected rustlers have been killed in the districts of Moroto and Napak.

The army has also recovered the gun stolen from a dead soldier in Napak and several army uniforms from the raiders. 

It has also recovered over 1,000 stolen animals from the raiders. The UPDF has also been able to restore some calm in Napak, after hundreds fled their homes in the last four weeks, over insecurity. Gutti said he is in Karamoja to oversee peaceful political  nominations ahead of campaigns and elections.

He said he has been instructed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to demobilise the guns in the hands of wrong elements.

 What traders are say

 Hamba Ibulayimu, trader

 Cattle are brought to us during the market days and we buy them.

 Mustapha, trader

We promise never to step in Karamoja again, if we are set free.

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