The joint security forces and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit-ASTU have finally recovered the firearm that suspected rustlers stole from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) camp in Kalosarich in Kotido district.
The AK 47 gun registration number UG-UWA-UE-27401998 with six rounds of ammunition was recovered last week when joint security forces ambushed Karimojong cattle rustlers who had crossed raid animals in Morulem sub-county in Abim district.
Micheal Longole, the Karamoja regional police spokesperson, says that they recovered the firearm after gunning down one rustler. “Our forces could not establish their number but luckily the one who was put out of action was using the UWA gun, which they stole from the camp in Kalosarich in Kotido district,” he said.
Moses Lokut, a peace committee member of the Panyangara sub-county in Kotido district said the recovery of the UWA gun will now allow them to rest, saying that security had pilled pressure on them to help recover the gun. “We have not been free because of this gun but now since it has been recovered, now we can breathe,” he said.
Joseph Lomongin, another resident appealed to the security forces to be so careful while befriending Karimojongs. “A Karimojong loves a gun so much so if you are a security personnel and a visitor in Karamoja please be careful,” he said.
According to a high-profile source in UWA, four-game rangers were locked up to help investigations on how the rustlers accessed the gun.