By Stanley Ebele
The joint security forces in Kotido have made a major breakthrough into a racket of armed Karamojong who have been terrorizing residents.
The 405 Brigade Commander, Lt. Col. Gaston Mugarura said today that that the forces have apprehended three notorious armed suspects from various locations in Kotido. They were arrested on Friday with military hardware following intelligence reports.
The three suspects are, Nanyang Lokorilem of Nakongucwa village in Maru Sub County, Apanamot Majong of Nataba village in Lokitelaebu Town Council and Adungo Otoito of Lomukura village, Watakau parish, Nakapelimoru Sub County.
They are accused of organizing a string of raids targeting civilian population in Lokitelaebu, Maru, Kotido Municipality, Kamor, Napumpum and Rikitae Sub Counties – all in Kotido district, in which, they and others still at large robbed money, mobile phones and property.
He applauded the leaders and the general public for always cooperating with the forces to eliminate criminals.
In a related development, security forces led by the UPDF have recovered one gun from a one Loyere Lokok a resident of Oyapuwa village in Lokorok Parish, Lokwakiel Sub County. According to the military, the suspect remains at large.
The firearm is suspected to have been used for terrorizing residents, steeling cows within and without Kotido.
Lt. Col. Mugarura described the breakthrough as a milestone in dealing with the resurgence of criminality in the district.
However, he said that the security forces have stepped up patrols and intelligence in order to rid of criminal elements from the community.
Over the past few months, there has been a resurgence of armed robberies in the southern part of Kotido stretching from Maru to Rikitae – sending the population into fear. But with the breakthrough, is seen as a milestone towards a peaceful living.
Since 2023, the security forces in Karamoja are holding out an olive branch to the armed Karamojong to abandon acts of criminality in order to benefit from the amnesty.
Recently, the Kotido Deputy Resident District Commissioner John Magezi Lukooli warned the armed Karachuna to handover their guns or the long arm of the law will catch up with them.
“I urge those still in the bushes destabilizing our peace to come forward and handover the guns to security. They should benefit from amnesty and the money government sends for reformed warriors,” said Magezi in an interview with this publication on Monday.
In Uganda, the penalty for unlawful possession of firearms includes a fine of up to 2 million Ugandan Shillings, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, according to the Firearms (Amendment) Act, 2006.
The specific penalty can depend on the circumstances and which court handles the case.
