By Simon Lomonyanga and Alexander Mackey Okori
At least 10 cattle traders from Lobongia Sub-county in Kaabong District were on Wednesday, April 2, 2026, robbed over Shs41 million and other valuable items by a group of suspected Karamojong gunmen.
The traders have been identified as Gabriel Logil, Simon Logel, Anyang Achuka, Lolem Awanyi, Ngiro Nyanga, Johnson Taoi, Lomoe Losur, Peter Lochola, Kakama Inaysio and Lokure Inyasio.
The victims, who joined cattle trade after voluntarily surrendering their illegal guns to the government, were traveling in five motorcycles to Kanawat cattle market, when the assailants reportedly armed with 12 guns ambushed them near Morunyang Rock along Kaabong-Kotido road at around 6:30 am.
Narrating the ordeal, Lokure Inyasio, one of the victims, said that the attackers, reportedly dressed in military-like uniforms, mounted a roadblock using huge logs.
He noted that the robbers fired live bullets immediately after stopping them; fortunately no one was injured.
He noted that the gunmen suspected to be the Jie from Kotido District robbed him of Shs3.5 million, Kakama Inyasio Shs3 million, Peter Lochola Shs3.5 million, Lomoe Losur Shs4.7 million.
Johnson Taoi was robbed of Shs8 million, Nngiro Nyanga Shs3.5 million, Lolem Awany Shs4.8 million, Anyang Achaka, Shs4.1 million, Simon Logeli Shs4.7 million and Gabriel Longeli lost Shs6.1 million to the robbers.
Kalisto Narucha, the Kidepo regional Community Liaison Officer (CLO) who also doubles as the acting police spokesperson confirmed the incident.
He said that according to the victims the suspects reportedly fled toward Kalokotido resettlement camp in Rengen Sub-county in Kotido District.
According to Narucha, no arrests have been made yet but the police and other security agencies are pursuing the assailants.
“The police in collaboration with UPDF are actively pursuing the criminals involved in this attack, Narusha said. Warning people against moving with huge amounts of cash on their bodies as this may expose them to the risks of being robbed.
The incident comes barely a week after the RDC Kaabong District Stephen Odong Latek downplayed the growing insecurity in the district arguing that the situation is in control.
Odong told this publication on March 23, 2026, that there is no rise in crime in the district.
He explained that the reported incidents are isolated and are being hyped by what he described as by social media alarmists.
Past incidents
The armed criminal gangs have since September last year been terrorizing communities by staging a series of roadblocks targeting locals, boda-boda riders, and business people en route home.
On March 20, 2026, Charles Ider, aged 25, a teacher at Toroi Primary School in Loyoro Sub-county, was ambushed at around 9:00 p.m by a group of unidentified criminal gang armed with sticks, and machetes.
Ider was returning home from a local drinking joint where he was having fun with his friends, when the assailants ambushed him at Komuria West Parish, Komuria Central Ward in Kaabong Town Council.
Narrating his ordeal, Ider said the assailants after inflicting deep cuts on his head, right hand shoulder and minor injuries on the back left him unconscious for close to an hour.
On March 4, 2026, a driver of a Sino truck registration number UA 915BG that was transporting mixed goods destined for Shanisha Supermarket in Kotido District was robbed Shs85, 000 in cash along Kaabong-Kotido by a group of eight gunmen.
The incident happened at a secluded spot in Sidok Sub-county in Kaabong district, despite the attack, the suspects failed to access the cargo inside the truck.
On November 15, 2025, the victims, identified as Suli Maganda and Jalia Kibone, were attacked by gunmen along Kalapata Road in Morukori Village, Lotim Sub-county who made off with their merchandise, including clothes, shoes, and motorcycles.
Need to intensify patrols
Meri Jino, the LCV Chairperson of Kaabong District emphasised on the need for security operatives to intensify patrols to ensure the safety of travelers and traders in the region.
He also called for heavy security deployment along the Kenya-Karamoja border to combat rising insecurity, cattle rustling, and small arms proliferation.
According to Meri, armed pastoralists from South Sudan, Kenya, and Ethiopia freely cross through uncontrolled porous borders, making it challenging for security forces to maintain a successful disarmament program.
“Porous entry points allow armed pastoralists from neighboring regions to enter Uganda, complicating disarmament efforts and creating conflict in districts like Kaabong and Kotido”, said Meri.
However, experts suggest that beyond military intervention, addressing food security, creating, strengthening cross-border peace agreements, and community-based surveillance are crucial for lasting peace in the region.
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