By Jennifer Acheng
At least 244 suspected Karimojong cattle rustlers who were arrested last year from Kotido district and incarcerated at Gulu government prison have been released.
The over 300 suspects who were arrested in mid-September 2022 according to the security officials were part of a racket terrorizing people in the districts of Lango and Acholi.
They were majorly picked up by the joint security forces comprising from Lobanya in Kacheri sub-county and Kamoru sub-county in a cordon and search operation and taken to Kitgum, Agagao and Pader districts before they were transferred to Gulu prison.
In November last year at least 198 suspects were released after they were screened by the military.
Peter Abrahams Lokii, the Jie County Member of Parliament confirmed the release of the remaining suspects to Etoil A Karamoja saying they were released on Monday afternoon after the DPP dropped all the charges against them.
Lokii claimed that much as the suspects were charged with murder and aggravated robbery, the UPDF together with the locals in Agago failed to prove that the suspects had indeed committed the crime, forcing the director of public prosecution DPP to drop charges against them.
Late last year, a section of leaders had demanded for the immediate transfer of all the suspects back to Kotido