The Uganda People’s Defence Forces -UPDF has said it has so far killed 654 warriors in the Karamoja sub-region since July last year. Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye said the operations that have been conducted with the help of police, have neutralized armed warriors who have made several parts of the area insecure.
Military and police embarked on a forceful disarmament exercise in Karamoja on July 13, 2021, following a directive by President Yoweri Museveni. This was after efforts of convincing the warriors to surrender their weapons were futile.
Most of the operations in the area have been conducted by the UPDF 3RD division commanded by Brig Gen Joseph Balikuddembe. The warriors who mostly target cattle, goats, and sheep have been raiding kraals taking animals after either killing owners or torching their homes.
UPDF has used both infantry and air to confront warriors who have allegedly been accessing guns from the Turkanas, ex-soldiers, and some Local Defence Units -LDUs who ended up using government-acquired rifles to terrorize locals.
Brig Gen Balikuddembe’s forces have not only killed 654 cattle rustlers but have also recovered 4,097 guns of all types. Security forces have also arrested 21,751 cattle rustlers of which 686 have been charged, and convicted in military court.
As Ugandans count only eight days left to Christmas, Brig Gen Kulayigye said security has been intensified especially in the central region. It is said that Tokora operations led by Col Fred Mwesigye have been beefed up with more than 400 soldiers purposely to deal with criminal elements during Christmas and New Year’s festivities.
Kampala and its neighbouring districts have experienced back-to-back criminal incidents this year that have ranged from machete attacks in areas of Kyengera, Namungona, Bulenga and to gangs throwing pavers at drivers at Northern Bypass. Many people have been brutally injured and some have died due to the cruel activities of criminal gangs.