By Bondry Kilenga
Police at Kotido Central Police Station are holding two suspected armed Karamojong cattle rustlers in connection to illicit crude waragi and alleged possession of an illegal firearm.
The duo have been identified as Paul Aleper, aged 20, a resident of Kaidila village in Lokitelaebu sub-county and Chilla Loriet, aged 27, a resident of Rengen sub-county.
Mike Longole, the Mt. Moroto/ASTU Spokesperson said that the suspects were intercepted at Nakwanamoru checkpoint on Wednesday at around 3:30am while carrying six jerry cans of illicit waragi on a bicycle.
He noted that when the security searched one of the suspects’ phones, they found a photo of him posing with the gun, raising concerns that the individuals may be armed and involved in criminal activities.
Longole explained that the suspects will be arraigned in court on charges related to the transportation of illicit liquor and possession of illegal firearms.
The incident comes barely a week after the joint security forces impounded a lorry with registration number UBJ 823M carrying with 445 jerry cans of illicit waragi with seven people on board.
The vehicle en route to Kotido from Lira was intercepted at Lokitelaebu, the final checkpoint before entering Kotido town on Friday July, 27, sparking questions of how the vehicle passed several check points undetected.
The suspects, identified as Tonny Abol, George Opio, Thomas Agol, Daniel Okello, Hillary Emuna, Joshua Ogwang, and Elly Odokori, are currently being held at Kotido Central Police Station with their vehicle and waragi as exhibits as investigations in the matter continue.
Charles Ichogor, the Kotido RDC ordered for the arrest of the security officers who were deployed to man security checkpoints along Kotido-Abim highway on the fateful night over alleged collusion with crude waragi dealers.
He criticized some security personnel for allegedly turning the ongoing operations against illicit waragi entry to Karamoja sub-region into a money-making venture.
This, according to him, contravenes the Presidential Executive Order No.3 issued in 2023, banning charcoal burning, sale and consumption of crude waragi.
Lt. Col. Emmy Kafureka, commander of the 43rd Battalion, acknowledged that “if officers are found to have taken bribes or facilitated the vehicle’s passage, they will face the full force of military and civilian justice.”
He reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing laws and regulations governing the transportation and sale of illicit waragi, as well as the efforts to protect the communities from potential threats.
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