On Monday evening, Karimojong warriors shot dead two Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers in Omiya Pacwa sub-county, Agago district.
The UPDF soldiers,who were conducting a night patrol, were ambushed by the warriors at around 9:00pm. According to James Opira, the chairperson of Omiya Pacwa sub-county, the UPDF exchanged fire with the warriors, who were about eight. He added that no cattle were stolen.
Emmanuel Okot, the Agago Resident District Commissioner (RDC), said the UPDF shot dead one warrior and recovered one gun.
Other Attacks
Six UPDF officers have been shot dead by Karimojong warriors this month alone. On January 15,the warriors attacked the UPDF at Longor dam,at the border of Agago and Kotido districts and killed four UPDF officers and took their guns.
Three guns were recovered and one is still missing.On the day of Omiya Pacwa attack, leaders of Agago held a security meeting at Paimol sub-county headquators to discuss how to stop the attacks by the Karimojong warriors.
Resolutions to Stop Rustlers
During the security meeting organised by the RDC and attended by the 5th division UPDF commanders, LC5 chairperson and all chairpersons of the sub-counties bordering Karamoja sub-region,the leaders said there was need to set up a UPDF detach at Longor dam to stop the warriors from raiding Agago.
The leaders also resolved to register all Karimojong who come to the commmunity looking for casual work. Karimojong wemen and theeir children come to Agago looking for casual labour.
The leaders suspected that these could be spying on the location of goats,cattle and sheep and latar inform their men to come and raid the animals.
Okot said they want the wemen to be registered with the LCI chairpersons with their particulars. “If we register them,it will be easy for us to trace them in case of any crime,” he said.
Okot said they also resolved to open a community access road from Odom village in Adilang sub-county, Agago district to Orom sub-county in Kitgum to help the UPDF patrol the border sub-counties
The resolutions came after the leaders, on January 19, together with the local communityin Paimol sub-county,opened a community access road from Kuriet in Labwor Dwong Army Training Wing to Longor Dam(35km) at the border of Agago and Kotido to aid operations of the UPDF.
Brig. Gen William Bainomugisha, the 5th Division commander, said they are working with the 3rd Division UPDF barracks in Karamoja sub-region to ensure that the raids in Agago are stopped.
Richard Ngom Kura, the LC3 chairperson of Paimol sub-county,said they are tired of the continued attacks by the warriors.
He said from 2022 to date,a total of 947 goats and 15 head of cattle were stolen and these have never been recovered.
