By Bondry Kilenga
Police in Kotido have destroyed at least 777 jerry cans of illicit crude waragi worth millions of shillings, following a court order issued by Kotido Grade one Magistrate, Rashid Katende.
The crude waragi was destroyed on July 7, 2025, at Kotido Air-strip in the presence of the Police Destroys 777 Jerrycans of Illicit in the presence of Police Commander, Nelson Sooma, Kotido RDC Charles Ichogor.
This waragi was impounded weeks ago at Lakitalebeu and Nakwanamoru checkpoints along Abim-Kotido Road by the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) Police personnel and other sister security agencies.
Nelson Sooma, the Kidepo Regional Police Commander, commended the security team for their vigilance and effective execution of duties.
Watch the process:https://www.tiktok.com/@bondrykilenga/video/7524371861988297989
“After keeping this waragi at our stores in Kotido Central Police Station, we wrote to the court for advice on what to do with it. The court advised us to destroy it. Therefore, we decided to invite the district leadership to witness the destruction of the illicit waragi by pouring it out and burning the jerry cans,” he said.
Sooma explained that the ongoing intensified operations targeting cattle rustlers in the sub region have enabled the joint security forces to impound about always intercept crude waragi along the main supply routes of Kotido and the entire Karamoja sub-region.
He called upon local leaders to work hand in hand with the security to rid the district of illicit waragi, which poses significant risks to public health and safety.
Charles Ichogor, the Kotido RDC directed the security forces in the district to intensify operations against illicit waragi.
He said that consumption of illicit waragi is reducing the life span of the Karimojong communities, fueling cattle theft and domestic violence.
Related Story: https://radioetoil.com/kotido-rdc-orders-arrest-of-security-personnel-manning-checkpoints-where-illicit-waragi-entered-karamoja/rsonnel-manning-checkpoints-where-illicit-waragi-entered-karamoja/
“This illicit waragi is poisonous; you can even smell its toxicity. This poison is reducing the lifespan of the Karamoja communities. Therefore, you need to go back to the drawing board and reactivate your forces to curb the transportation, sale, and consumption of illicit waragi”, Ichogor directed the RDC.
He noted that the intelligence gathered indicates that there is a significant amount of waragi being sold in trading centers and certain stores deep in the villages.
According to Karamoja Peace and Environmental Protection Service (Kapeps Ministry) report, 498 people have died due to alcohol-related causes and starvation in Kotido district over the past fifteen years.
The report, covering a period of 15 years from 2008 to 2023, indicates that the consumption of crude waragi and other local spirits was responsible for the deaths reported over this period.
In Kotido Municipality, 162 people reportedly died from alcohol-related illnesses, with 42 of them being women, while in the greater Panyangara area, which includes present-day Kamor, Loletio, Rikitae, and Napumpum 132 deaths were recorded.
The report also highlights that 77 Karachunas lost their lives in raids against Teso, Acholi, and other districts in Karamoja, which were triggered under the influence of alcohol.
John Bosco Akore, the author of the report and the founder member of Kapeps Ministry, stated that these alarming numbers demonstrate how deadly crude alcohol is to the Karamoja sub-region.
Listen to us online via: https://www.radiocomnetu.org/etoilakaramoja
For Advertisement and News call or send SMS to 0787551001 or WhatsApp +256-787-289-992/+256-775-907-140 or email: eetoilnewsdesk@gmail.com/vokradio22@gmail.comCue DPC Kotido eng
