By Alexander Mackey Okori
One of the hardcore armed criminals in Kotido district suspected to have been involved poaching along the Uganda-Kenya border, and undermining security in the fragile area especially in Turkana, has surrendered his gun to the Church after joint security forces seized cattle belonging to his relatives.
Peter Locham aka Lokoriteba, aged 24, a son of Lokwang Lonyangateba, resident of Lobongia Village, Kalokwanga Parish, Nakapelimoru Sub-County, on Saturday, July 11, 2026, surrendered an SMG gun, NO 4327 (BC) with one round of ammunition to Fr. Raphael Loberei of Kokoria Catholic Parish.
The voluntary surrender followed an intelligence-led operation conducted by joint security forces on Friday, July 10, where 11 head of cattle belonging to Logwang Ebokokitoi, a resident of Nateele Village, Watakau Central Parish, Nakapelimoru Sub-County, were impounded as part of the investigations.
Mike Longole, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson said following mounting pressure from the owners of the animals, the suspect voluntarily chose to surrender the illegal firearm through Fr. Loberei to the office of the Resident District Commissioner.
He said the suspect was set free in accordance with presidential amnesty program while the animals remain impounded pending verification and handover to the owner.
Security intelligence according to Longole indicates that, Locham and his accomplices, bought the gun from armed criminals in Kakamar Sub-County, Kaabong District in January 2026.
He added that disarmament operations remain active and ongoing to recover illegal weapons and enhance security in the Karamoja Sub-region.
Longole encouraged those still in possession of illegal guns to use government’s amnesty window to voluntarily surrender guns without prosecution.
