Karamoja Herdsmen Advised on Peaceful Alliances to Curb Cattle Theft

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces 3 Division Commander, Major General Don William Nabasa, has implored the Jie and Dodoth communities of Kotido and Kaabong districts, respectively, in North Karamoja, to explore the formation of a meaningful and peaceful alliance to combat cattle theft and reduce tension.

Maj Gen Nabasa made remarks during an inter-district security community meeting held at Moruitit village, Sidok Sub-County in Kaabong district.

“I implore the two communities to form a peaceful alliance to foster brotherhood, reduce counter-accusations and curb cattle theft in your locations,” Maj Gen Nabasa said.

The 3 Division Commander observed that the sub-region continues to witness relative peace with adherence to the existing Presidential Amnesty window, despite the accusations and counter-accusations between the Jie and Dodoth communities that prompted an inter-district security meeting in Moruitit in Sidok Sub County, Kaabong district.

Maj Gen Nabasa stressed that the Turkana pastoralists factor is being addressed to maintain relative peace along the Uganda-Kenya borderline.

He urged the local leaders to cooperate closely with the UPDF’s 405 Brigade Commander. He tasked Battalion Commanders to identify the reformed warriors who could be able to work alongside security forces.

He underscored that reformed warriors know the terrain, routes, hideouts and their networks and, therefore, can be used to curb criminality in Northern Karamoja.

Capt (Rtd) Chris Mike Okirya, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Kaabong, appealed to communities and rustlers still possessing guns to peacefully hand them over to security to become beneficiaries of government incentives and services.

On their part, the two district Chairpersons, Hon. Meri Jino (Kaabong) and Hon Lotee Paul, known as Kacheri Boy (Kotido), agreed to spearhead the drilling of three boreholes along borderlines to solve water scarcity and facilitate deployment along the Uganda- Kenya board line.

Judith Nakut, the Karacuna mobiliser, pledged to intensify the mobilisation of targeted groups to voluntarily surrender illegal firearms, noting that some Karacuna had fled to the wilderness due to conflicts between the Jie and Dodoth communities.

Present were Resident District Commissioners, LCV Chairpersons, Senior Security Officers of UPDF, UPF, ISO and ASTU, LC 3 Chairpersons, District councillors, Elders, and community members.